Current methodology for oxygen-15 production for clinical use.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiochemistry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Oxygen-15 (15O) is a positron-emitting radionuclide with a short half-life (2.05 min).
• It is utilized in simple chemical forms for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) studies.
• Applications include the investigation of oxygen metabolism, blood flow, and blood volume in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a practical design and operational database for 15O production and utilization in PET.
• To review and consolidate current practices in 15O production, purification, and quality control.
• To support the wider adoption of 15O-based PET techniques in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Review of established practices in four European laboratories routinely using 15O in PET studies.
• Consolidation of data on the production and purification of 15O.
• Evaluation of quality control procedures for clinically relevant 15O products ([15O]O2, [15O]CO2, [15O]CO, [15O]H2O).

Main Results:

• The production and preparation of key 15O-labeled compounds are well-established globally.
• A need for a consolidated database of practical design and operational data was identified.
• Current practices in production, purification, and quality control were reviewed.

Conclusions:

• Standardized protocols for 15O production and quality control are essential for reliable clinical PET imaging.
• Sharing operational data can facilitate the implementation of 15O-based PET studies in new centers.
• Further development and dissemination of best practices will enhance the clinical utility of 15O PET.