Travel Advice - Nuclear Pharmacy Services

During a recent conversation with one of ThereArePlaces medical sources, we found out a piece information that is likely to be of concern to a limited number of travelers, but it is an extremely important topic.

Travelers who have undergone nuclear testing (for example for a heart scan) are injected with a minor amount of nuclear isotopes for purposes of tracking or highlighting potential medical problems. Nuclear isotopes are obviously radioactive, but we were surprised to learn that the isotopes may give off radioactivity for up to a month after the test. In addition, the amount of radioactivity released may be detectable externally and can set off sensing devices when a traveler, who has undergone nuclear testing, is involved in security-screening procedures.

In order to prevent the patient who has undergone nuclear testing from being detained as the result of setting off a sensor, the testing service provides a note signed by a doctor indicating the nature of the test and explaining the reason for the sensor’s detection of radiation. In addition, the patient is provided a wallet sized Nuclear Medicine Patient Card indicating that the person has undergone Nuclear Pharmacy Services. The card should provide the name of the testing facility, an On-call contact number, the date of the test and the expiration date of the nuclear isotope involved in the testing. In addition, the card should include a list of common radionuclides, indicate the radionuclide used in the testing, and the activity level of the isotope in millicuries.

If you should undergo any Nuclear Pharmacy Services as part of medical testing and plan to travel, make sure that you alert the staff to this situation. Ask for a Nuclear Medicine Patient Card that provides notification for security and low enforcement personnel.

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