Why is normal saline used for eluting Mo99- Tc99m we radionucllide generators?

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Clarification of Question by rswchicago-ga on 07 Jun 2003 09:51 PDT

Why is normal saline used for eluting Mo99 - Tc99m wet radionuclide generators?

Hi there

I presume the key word in your question is "normal" when describing
saline solutions.

The solvent used, Sodium Chloride 0.9%, used for eluting is
prepackaged in septum-sealed vials.  0.9% sodium chloride in water is
called a physiological solution because it is isoosmotic with blood
plasma.  It is compatible with the body and the study cells of choice.

"Normal," in this case describing the 0.9% strength of the solution as
opposed to other, stronger strengths of saline which may be used
externally in the form of eyewashes, etc.  This isoosmotic
characteristic is important whether taken orally or by injection,
including its use with Tc99m.

Other

Search - Google

Terms - "normal" saline solution, isoosmotic solutions, eluting
solvents

Websites used in the above:

http://camelot.lf2.cuni.cz/pavelkoz/fyziologie/english/teaching/lecturenotes/elektrolytes/
- Body Fluids - Here you can learn about the effects of solutions
other than "normal" and their effects on cells such as swelling
(Hypotonic solutions) or shrinking (Hypertonic) solutions.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_chloride - Sodium Chloride 

http://www.radiopharm.com/pdf/pi/Technelite.pdf - From Bristol-Myers
Squibb - same website as used in previous question.

If I may clarify anything before you rate the answer, please ask.

Cheers
digs

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Clarification of Answer by digsalot-ga on 07 Jun 2003 10:59 PDT

Please note: The word "other" standing alone in the answer is a word I
forgot to edit out, it is meaningless.  I was going to discuss
Hypotonic and Hypertonic saline solutions as opposed to "normal" but
decided instead to mention them along with the links.

digs

Thank you, just the answer I was looking for.