Evaluation of labeling procedures and in vivo stability of 99mTc-red blood cells.

Stable labeling of red blood cells (RBCs) with 99mTc, in yields of about 66%, was achieved by using stannous chloride as a reducing agent. In a study of 12 patients, the stability of technetium-labeled RBCs in the circulation varied significantly among individuals, but the average biologic half-life of the labeled cells was 16.8 hr. Although the labeling yield was lower when the labeling was carried out without EDTA with the addition of stannous chloride after the pertechnetate, this sequence appears to be the best for labeling RBCs for use in obtaining images of the blood pool or the cardiovascular system because of the increased viability of the RBCs.