Amersham International Plc

Roy Abrahams

James D Kelly

Anthony Brockas

A method of making a radiopharmaceutical composition by mixing an aqueous solution of pertechnetate with a reducing agent comprising tin metal or stannous ion to reduce the pertechnetate and a complexing agent to form a complex with the reduced technetium, is characterized by incorporating nitrate and/or nitrite in an amount to diminish oxidation of Sn.sup.2+ to Sn.sup.4+, and hence to prevent re-oxidation of technetium to pertechnetate, during preparation and storage of the complex. Nitrate and nitrite are superior to organic antioxidants previously proposed. A reagent for the purpose comprises the reducing agent, the complexing agent and the nitrate and/or nitrite usually in a sterile freeze-dried state.

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Amersham, United Kingdom

Roy Abrahams