Event Notification Report for February 27, 2020

NON-AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - EXTERNALLY CONTAMINATED PACKAGE

The following was received from the Veterans Health Administration via E-mail:

"Per 10 CFR 20.1906(d), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Health Physics Program is reporting receipt of a package of radioactive material with removable surface contamination on the outside of the package greater than NRC reporting limits.

"The package was received Thursday, February 27, 2020, at around 0710 EST by the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System [Permit No.: 0912467-02] in Gainesville, Florida. This facility holds permit number 09-12467-02 under the VHA master materials license.

"The package was checked-in and surveyed upon receipt around 0710 EST. Wipe tests performed on the external surface of the entire package indicated a removable contamination level of around 560 dpm/cm2 as compared to the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters. Removable contamination level on the bottom surface of the package, indicated a removable contamination level of around 413 dpm/cm2 as compared to the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters.

"The package contained three unit doses consisting of a 6 mCi dose of Tc-99m Mebrofenin (calibrated for 1330), a 25 mCi dose of Tc-99m Sestamibi (calibrated for 0930), and a 1 mCi dose of Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid (calibrated for 0800).

"The dosage was shipped from Triad Isotopes, out of Jacksonville, Florida, who was also the delivery carrier. The facility Radiation Safety Officer immediately notified the delivery carrier by phone about the contaminated package around 0730 EST.

"The patient dosages inside the package were not impacted and were able to be used. As corrective actions, the packaging materials were bagged in plastic and set aside in a restricted area at the facility.

"VHA National Health Physics Program, who manages the master materials license, was notified of the incident around 0840 EST.

"In addition, the licensee is notifying their NRC Region III project manager (Parker) of the event by inclusion in this email."

The external contamination was Tc-99m and the package will be held until the isotope has decayed prior to returning it to the pharmacy.


* * * UPDATE FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1725 EST ON 2/28/2020 * * *

The following is a synopsis of information received via E-mail:

Reporting Organization: State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control
NRC Notified By: Matthew Senison
Licensee: Jubilant DraxImage Radiopharmacies, Inc.
City, State: Jacksonville, Florida
License Number: 4587-5

Jubilant, Jacksonville received a call from the VHA in Gainesville, Florida about a delivery bag which had been delivered around 0710 EST that was contaminated on the outside. Jubilant, Jacksonville then notified their RSO who notified Jubilant's corporate RSO. Jubilant, Jacksonville personnel reviewed surveys and DOT documentation and found no removable contamination. They immediately pulled all six carts that are used in the pharmacy and wipe tested and surveyed each cart using a single channel analyzer and found only background. The driver is a third party (MDS) and had just returned. Jubilant, Jacksonville personnel surveyed and wipe tested the entire van and found it to also be at background. The Jubilant, Jacksonville RSO then called the VHA's RSO to relay that three patient doses were in the bag and no removable contamination had been found in the bag nor on the doses. VHA's RSO stated that she was notifying the NRC who would notify BRC. Since the NRC report shows the activity was Tc-99m, and neither party could find the source; at this point greater than five half-lives have passed, so there are no current plans to deploy investigators to either facility at this time.

Florida Incident Number: FL20-023 (2)

Notified R1DO (Ferdas), R3DO (Orth), and the NMSS Events Notification E-mail group.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL REJECTED AT WASTE FACILITY

The following is a summary of information received via email:

On 2/27/20, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) was notified that a waste transport truck was rejected at a waste facility in Hudson Falls, NY. The truck was rejected because radioactive material was detected measuring 1.4 mrem/hr while background radiation was 0.01 mrem/hr. The truck was redirected to Tam Recycling in Pownal, VT, and instructed to isolate the waste.

On 3/2/20, the Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team (VHMRT) and a member of VDH Radiation Control responded to the recycling center. The radioactive waste was identified as human bladder control products which contained an estimated 4.6 microCi of I-131. The contents were double bagged and isolated in a remote storage area at the recycling center for to decay.

On 4/3/20, VDH issued Vermont Information Notice IN 20-001 (Release of humans and animals receiving I-131 therapy) to all Vermont radioactive materials licensees who are authorized to use I-131. This Information Notice recommends all affected licensees review their I-131 administration procedures, patient release criteria, and pet owner release instructions.

On 6/26/20, a VDH inspector returned to survey the material, and found that the radiation levels of the material were indistinguishable from background.

With the decay of the I-131 waste this incident has been closed out by VDH on 8/5/20.

Vermont Incident No.: VT-20-001