Release card and precaution period

Instructions can only be followed and measures can only be taken when all those concerned, know about the fact that somebody still holds a certain amount of radioactivity due to recent treatment with a radioactive product.

To inform all those concerned, the “radioactive person” should carry the release card at all times preferably next to the identity card during a certain “precaution period”. Precaution periods are determined for the different radioactive products available.

This release card is useful in the following situations:

  • If a person needs to be re-admitted to hospital or in the case of a medical emergency (e.g. heart attack, trauma, traffic accident, urgent surgery, resuscitation,…) shortly after the administration of a radioactive product, the release card informs the local physicians and nurses that that person still holds a certain amount of radioactivity. This way, they can further inform themselves and, if necessary, take protective measures. This person must receive the same care and treatment as anyone else.
     
  • In case of decease of a person shortly after the administration after a radioactive product, it is possible that his or her body still holds a certain amount of radioactivity. More information on the webpagina FR or NL.
     
  • If a person triggers an alarm of a radiation detector shortly after the administration of a radioactive product (for example at the airport), he must show the release card to the security personnel. This way, they can further inform themselves and make informed decisions.

The release card is made available to the nuclear physicians via the Belnuc website and to the radiation oncologists via the BeSTRO website.

The end of the precaution period of the different radioactive products, administered activities and indications (only for [I-131]-NaI) is calculated1 with this “Calculator".

Attention ! This “Calculator” does not calculate the time periods that measures have to be taken by the patient towards his partner, the public, pregnant women and children,… (limiting the time of contact, keeping distance,…) as currently indicated in the written instructions for the patient.
We do not change the time periods that have to be indicated in these written instructions.

If a person dies during this calculated precaution period, it must be recalculated by the nuclear physician or radiation oncologist in consultation with the radiation protection expert.

1 For all radioactive products, the precaution period is calculated as in the advice of the Superior Health Council nr. 8416 entitled “Advies betreffende de problematiek van de crematie van overleden dragers van radioactieve bronnen” with:
[I-131]-NaI, [Sm-153]-Quadramet®, [Y-90]-colloïd, [I-131]-MIBG, [Y-90]-Zevalin®: values for biological half-life and excretion as in this advice.
[I-125]-implants: biological half-life of 10.000 days and 0% excretion.
[Ra-223]-Xofigo®: biological half-life of 10.000 days and 0% excretion. This precaution period was already discussed with Belnuc and VBS/GBS in the framework of the preparation of the written patient instructions.
[Y-90]-microspheres and [Ho-166]-microspheres: biological half-life of 10.000 days and 0% excretion.
[Lu-177]-DOTATATE: effective half-life of 4,17 days (Fitschen et al, Zeitschrift für Medizinische Physik, 2011) and 65% fast excretion (advice of the Superior Health Council nr. 8838 entitled “Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy”)
[Lu-177]-PSMA: effective half-life of 3,54 days (Kurth et al, EJNMMI, 2018) and 70% fast excretion (Kurth et al, EJNMMI, 2018).

Laatst aangepast op: 22/09/2020