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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Radiopharmacy Activities: Preliminary report: first international survey
  • Fatma Al-Saeedi
Fatma Al-Saeedi
Kuwait University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Rationale, aims, and objectives: The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted normal activities across the world, from economy to socialization, and claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The activities in radiopharmacy laboratories across the globe have been affected significantly. This survey was conducted to assess the effect of COVID-19 on radiopharmacy and activities going on in the laboratories around the world. This was meant to undertake a preliminary record of the continuing survey. Methods: A three-sectioned questionnaire with 12 questions was distributed to the professional working on radiopharmacy laboratories. The sections included demographic information, the effect of the pandemic on the regular operation on a radiopharmacy, and the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus among the laboratory staff. Random sampling approach was used to select 100 respondents, including staff and radiochemists, across different parts of the world. Results: The survey demonstrated that the pandemic hugely impacted activities in a radiopharmacy laboratory. 98% of the respondents reported major disruptions in the normal schedule in the laboratory. Even though some laboratories continued working normally, strict measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the virus among the staff. In many radiopharmacy laboratories, diagnostic procedures and tests quantitatively decreased. The survey reported positron emission radiopharmaceutical fluorodeoxyglucose F-18 (F18-FDG) as the frequently organ imaging radiopharmaceutical during the pandemic. Conclusions: The survey showed that COVID-19 has negatively impacted activities in a radiopharmacy laboratory, consequently affecting research activities.
22 Jul 2020Submitted to Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
23 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
23 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed