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Calibrators designed to detect and measure the total amount of ionization produced by a radiopharmaceutical (i.e., the radionuclide activity) in either curies (Ci) or becquerels (Bq). The measured radiopharmaceuticals are usually in syringes, vials, or capsules. These calibrators typically consist of a power supply, a detector (e.g., an ionization chamber), sample holders, amplifiers, an electrometer, and a display; they usually include controls to adjust for different isotopes (e.g., Tc-99, Cs-137). Radioisotope calibrators are used in nuclear medicine studies to prepare radiopharmaceuticals at specific concentrations, to measure their activity before administration, and to determine the activity of radionuclide impurities (e.g., Mo-99). Some calibrators include appropriate measuring ranges and characteristics (e.g., holders) to calibrate both high-energy gamma and beta nuclides, high-dose brachytherapy, and/or PET isotopes.
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