A precise chromatography system for specific technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals.

New chromatographic procedures are needed to accurately determine the radiochemical purity of technetium-99m labeled radiopharmaceuticals. A chromatography system has been developed for technetium-99m diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid, technetium-99m diphosphonate, and technetium-99m pyrophosphate. The technique involves spotting the radiopharmaceuticals on instant thin layer chromatography-silica gel and developing with acetone (solvent from migrates approximately 12 cm from the origin), air drying, and redeveloping the strip in normal saline (solvent front migrates approximately 6 cm from the origin). The procedure is simple to perform, rapid, accurate, and clearly separates technetium-99m pertechnetate, the technetium-99m radiopharmaceutical, and hydrolyzed reduced technetium-99m. It can be applied in most nuclear medicine laboratories and has the potential to predict the quality of radionuclide images obtained.