Event Notification Report for January 4, 2008

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
01/03/2008 - 01/04/2008

** EVENT NUMBERS **

General Information or Other	Event Number: 43833
Rep Org: NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA Region: 4 City: GRAND FORKS State: ND County: License #: 33-12827-01 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: CHRIS SCHMALTZ HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN	Notification Date: 12/11/2007 Notification Time: 09:17 [ET] Event Date: 12/10/2007 Event Time: 15:45 [MST] Last Update Date: 01/03/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): RUSSELL BYWATER (R4) MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT FROM NORTH DAKOTA OF A POSSIBLE OVEREXPOSURE

A physician researcher at the University of North Dakota received a report from Landauer of a radiation exposure reading on his badge of 74 Rem deep dose and 69 Rem shallow dose. The monitoring period for the badge (monthly or quarterly) was not known to the State. Investigation has determined that the researcher is believed to have worked only with P-32 and has done nothing out of the ordinary. The lab area where the researcher worked has been surveyed and there is no indication of contamination. The researcher is currently having blood work done to determine if there is any indication of radiation damage. The licensee is also working with Landauer focusing on the discrepancy between the deep dose and shallow dose readings on the badge. For an overexposure of this magnitude, it would be expected that the shallow dose would be much greater than the deep dose.

The University Radiation Committee is leading the investigation for the licensee. The State plans to evaluate the results of the licensee's investigation findings before considering what actions it will take .

* * * UPDATE FROM CHRIS SCHMALTZ TO RYAN ALEXANDER AT 0931 EST ON 12/19/2007 * * *

The North Dakota Department of Health was informed from Landauer that the physician researcher's ring badge from the time period had been processed and showed no remarkable dose above normal doses seen for those conducting activities similar to that of the researcher. Additionally, Landauer identified residual contamination (not quantified) on the researcher's primary dosimetry badge that showed the excessive deep dose and shallow dose. It appears at this time that the majority of the dose delivered to the primary badge may have been due to the contamination on the badge. Results of the blood work have not been completed the time of the update.

The researcher is currently restricted from working in radiation areas and using radioactive materials, pending the completion of the investigation.

Notified R4DO (Farnholtz) and FSME EO (Morell).

* * * UPDATE FROM CHRIS SCHMALTZ TO JOE O'HARA AT 1421 EST ON 01/03/2008 * * *

The North Dakota Department of Health was informed by the University of North Dakota via letter that the university received a report from Landauer that indicates the contamination was limited to the physician's badge and that the dose was to the badge and not to the individual. Blood work and a medical exam conclude that the physician was not overexposed. The dose in question was limited to the badge. Based upon the reported results, the State does not consider this to be an overexposure event.

Notified R4DO(Lantz) and FSME EO (Morell)

General Information or Other	Event Number: 43872
Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL Licensee: SOUTHWEST VOLUSIA HEALTHCARE CORP Region: 1 City: ORANGE CITY State: FL County: License #: 2467-1 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: CHARLES ADAMS HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE	Notification Date: 12/28/2007 Notification Time: 11:34 [ET] Event Date: 12/28/2007 Event Time: [EST] Last Update Date: 12/28/2007
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): NEIL PERRY (R1) SANDRA WASTLER (FSME)

Event Text

MEDICAL EVENT - INCORRECT ISOTOPE ADMINISTERED

"Doctor ordered iodine (didn't specify isotope) thyroid uptake & scan for a patient. This licensee uses I-123 for this purpose. Patient was incorrectly scheduled for a I-131 (2.2mCi) whole body scan and that was done on 12/17/07. Error was discovered 12/25. Patient & doctor have been notified and no adverse health effects are expected. Licensee will submit a written report. Scheduling personnel will be re-educated to verify an order before scheduling patients for a procedure. The tech will be re-educated to read the script before dosing a patient. Any further action on this incident is referred to Radioactive Materials."

Incident Number FL07-205

A "Medical Event" may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.

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