[An alternative method to determine the radiochemical purity of the 99mTC-tetrofosmine preparations]

This paper describes a new quality control method to determine the radiochemical purity (RCP) value of Technetium-99m-Tetrofosmin preparations. The results of this procedure were compared with the results obtained with the method suggested by the manufacturer of the kit (classic method), consisting in thin-layer chromatography involving the use of a single strip of ITLC/SG as the stationary phase, and a acetone:dichlorometane 35:65 (Ac:DCM) solvent mixture as the mobile phase. The method that is proposed in this paper (alternative method) uses the same stationary phase but it is developed in a single solvent, methylethylketone (MEK). This method has the following advantages: a better capacity to separate the 99mTc-Tetrofosmin complex from 99mTcO4- and 99mTcO2 impurities, a faster chromatographic developing time and the use of a single solvent in the quality control.