VICAD: A Practical Type A Transport Solution for Nuclear Medicine
The safe transportation of radioactive materials is an essential part of modern nuclear medicine. From radiopharmaceuticals and multidose vials to radioactive sources, departments need transport solutions that provide robust physical protection while meeting the regulatory requirements associated with radioactive material transport.
The VICAD case from Raditech has been developed as a Type A transport container for the movement of both solid and liquid radioactive materials.
At Light Medical, we supply specialist equipment to nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy departments across the UK and Ireland, including radioactive material transport and storage solutions. The Radi TecCase is designed to provide a practical option for departments looking to safely transport radioactive materials while maintaining a manageable footprint and straightforward handling.
What is a Type A package?
Type A packaging is designed for the transport of radioactive material within specified activity limits. Unlike simple storage containers, a Type A package must demonstrate that it can withstand the normal conditions and potential incidents associated with transport.
Testing and design requirements address factors such as impact, penetration and containment, helping to ensure that radioactive material remains safely contained during transportation.
This is particularly important in nuclear medicine, where radioactive materials routinely move between manufacturers, radiopharmacies, hospitals and other facilities.
Recent UK government research highlights the scale of radioactive material transport associated with medical applications. More than 200,000 radiopharmaceutical packages are estimated to be transported across the UK each year, with Type A packages forming a significant part of this activity.
Designed for nuclear medicine applications
The Radi TecCase is particularly suited to the transport of multiple radioactive vials, with the manufacturer highlighting its suitability for multidose Tc-99m vials.
The case has internal dimensions of approximately 306 × 232 × 125 mm and is manufactured using ABS and polyurethane.
The system is designed around the practical requirements of nuclear medicine departments, where transport equipment needs to balance several competing requirements:
Radiation protection
Physical protection of radioactive material
Containment
Ease of handling
Robustness during transport
Regulatory compliance
Efficient use of space
This balance is particularly important when transporting multiple vials or other radioactive materials together.
More than just a carrying case
A Type A transport container needs to do considerably more than simply protect its contents from knocks and bumps.
Transport packages are subjected to specific performance requirements intended to demonstrate their ability to withstand the conditions they may encounter during normal transport and reasonably foreseeable accidents.
Raditech states that the Radi TecCase has been tested against the requirements of IAEA SSR-6, ADR and IATA, as well as the UK's ONR guidance NS-INSP-GD-075.
The manufacturer has also highlighted the importance of penetration testing during the development of the system. According to Raditech, testing identified a failure associated with the original 1400 case during enhanced penetration testing, leading to upgrades to the case system.
This type of ongoing testing is important because compliance is not simply about designing a container once and leaving it unchanged. Transport packaging needs to remain appropriate as regulations, testing requirements and operational experience develop.
Why does this matter to nuclear medicine departments?
For departments regularly transporting radioactive materials, the transport case becomes an important part of the overall radiation safety system.
A well-designed package can make the movement of radioactive material more straightforward for staff while helping to protect the material, the people handling it and the wider environment.
This is particularly relevant for materials such as Tc-99m, which remains widely used in diagnostic nuclear medicine, as well as other radionuclides used for diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy.
The UK Health Security Agency's recent review of radioactive material transport found that medical radioisotopes make up a substantial proportion of radioactive packages transported by road in the UK.
As nuclear medicine continues to expand, particularly with the growth of theranostics and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, dependable transport infrastructure will become increasingly important.
A flexible solution for radioactive material transport
One of the advantages of the Radi TecCase is its ability to accommodate different radioactive materials rather than being limited to a single application.
Although it is particularly well suited to multidose Tc-99m vials, Raditech states that the Type A testing allows the case to be used for Type A quantities of a range of commonly transported radionuclides, subject to the applicable activity and transport requirements.
This can make a reusable Type A case an attractive option for departments that handle a variety of radioactive materials.
However, the suitability of any package depends on the radionuclide, activity, physical form, package configuration and mode of transport. A Type A package should therefore always be used within the limits of its certification and the applicable transport regulations.
Radiopharmaceutical transport from Light Medical
At Light Medical, we understand that radioactive material transport is only one part of the wider nuclear medicine workflow.
We supply a range of specialist equipment for nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy departments, including:
Type A transport containers
Radioactive source transport and storage equipment
Vial and syringe shielding
Lead and tungsten shielding
Shielded workstations
Radioactive waste equipment
Custom shielding solutions
We work with specialist manufacturers to provide equipment that is appropriate for the practical requirements of nuclear medicine departments.
The Radi TecCase is one example of how modern transport packaging can combine robust construction, practical handling and Type A performance requirements in a single system.
Need a Type A transport solution?
If your department is reviewing its radioactive material transport arrangements, Light Medical can help you identify an appropriate solution based on the radionuclide, activity, contents and intended method of transport.
Contact Light Medical to discuss Type A radioactive material transport containers and other nuclear medicine equipment.
Please note: Type A packaging must be used within the conditions and limitations of its applicable certification. Certification status, permitted contents and activity limits should be confirmed before use.