A Fast and Simple Method for the Determination of TBA in 18F-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals

Nils Erik Halvorsen; Ole Heine Kvernenes

doi:10.3390/ph13020027

A Fast and Simple Method for the Determination of TBA in ¹⁸F-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020 Feb 11;13(2):27. doi: 10.3390/ph13020027.

Authors

Nils Erik Halvorsen¹, Ole Heine Kvernenes¹

Affiliation

¹ Center for Nuclear medicine/PET, Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 65, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.

Abstract

A simple color spot test for determining the presence of residual tetrabutylammonium (TBA) in various ¹⁸F-radiopharmaceuticals is described. The test can be performed in less than five minutes. Iodoplatinate-saturated TLC plates are initially spotted with the ¹⁸F-radiopharmaceutical to be tested and TBA, then with deionized water or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solution, depending on if an antioxidant stabilizer is part of the pharmaceutical matrix. A distinct brown spot is visible at TBA concentrations of 50 µg/mL and up.

Keywords: FDG; FDOPA; PET; PSMA; TBA; iodoplatinate; quality control; radiopharmaceuticals; spot test; tetrabutylammonium.