Ordering and Transferring of Radioactive Material

 

The ORSS approves all orders for radioactive material and ensures that the authorized material, quantities, manufacturer, model, and possession limits are not exceeded. All acquisitions of radioactive materials, whether through purchase or transfer from another authorized licensee, shall be arranged through the ORSS.

All requisitions for purchase of radioactive material must be approved by the ORSS before the purchasing department will issue a purchase order number. The ORSS will approve a purchase requisition provided that:

i The requisitioner has an active license issued by the Radiation Safety Committee which includes the radionuclide(s) and the chemical and physical forms requisitioned.

ii Acquisition of the radioactive material will not result in the University exceeding the possession limits specified in its State and Federal licenses and will not result in the licensee exceeding the possession limit specified in his/her institutional license.

iii The requisition contains the following information:

1) The shipping instructions specify the licensee's name and the notation "in care of the Office of Radiation Safety Services - Medical Science Building Room A679," and the complete address of the UMDNJ Newark campus (or the ICPH Building address);

(2) The radionuclide, chemical form, and activity to be purchased;

(3) The vendor and catalog number;

(4) The requested delivery date.

iv The requisition indicates an anticipated delivery schedule and number of shipments for each radionuclide, and the licensee confirms that prior shipments are depleted (i.e., have been disposed of) before a new shipment is received. Acquisition of radioactive material through transfer from another licensee (PI) either inside or outside the institution will be approved by the ORSS provided that the conditions identified in i and ii above are met. If the radioactive material is to be received from a licensee outside the institution, then the shipping instruction provided to the sender shall conform to those described in iii (1), above.

All transfers inside the institution shall be done in a way that minimizes the probability of spillage or breakage. Double containers should be used, including suitable shielding, for such transfers.

Licensees (PI) may not directly receive a shipment of radioactive material unless written authorization is received from the ORSS. Incoming shipments of radioactive material shall be routed directly to the ORSS where they will be logged into a master inventory record and inspected for integrity, radiation levels, and proper labeling before being released to the licensee.

When the licensee (PI) has written authorization to directly receive packages, then he/she shall be required to inspect the shipment following the procedures provided by the ORSS, and to notify the ORSS that the shipment has been received.