How long is the shelf-life of Iodine-123 (I-123)?

How long is the shelf-life of Iodine-123 (I-123)?

• A. 6 hours
• B. 13.3 hours
• C. 78 hours
• D. 2.8 days

Answer: (B)

Iodine-123 has a shelf-life of approximately 13.3 hours, which makes this choice the most accurate. This relatively short half-life is suitable for various nuclear medicine applications, especially single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. The quick decay also ensures that the radioactivity level diminishes to a safer level in a reasonable time frame, which is beneficial for patient safety and minimizing radiation exposure. In nuclear medicine, the half-life of a radionuclide impacts its clinical utility; I-123's 13.3-hour half-life allows for effective imaging while still enabling a timely turnaround for the preparation and administration of the radiopharmaceutical. The use of isotopes with appropriate half-lives is often a balance between obtaining diagnostic information and ensuring patient safety, making I-123 a favorable choice in many situations due to its compatibility with both imaging requirements and patient care protocols.

Iodine-123 has a shelf-life of approximately 13.3 hours, which makes this choice the most accurate. This relatively short half-life is suitable for various nuclear medicine applications, especially single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. The quick decay also ensures that the radioactivity level diminishes to a safer level in a reasonable time frame, which is beneficial for patient safety and minimizing radiation exposure.

In nuclear medicine, the half-life of a radionuclide impacts its clinical utility; I-123's 13.3-hour half-life allows for effective imaging while still enabling a timely turnaround for the preparation and administration of the radiopharmaceutical. The use of isotopes with appropriate half-lives is often a balance between obtaining diagnostic information and ensuring patient safety, making I-123 a favorable choice in many situations due to its compatibility with both imaging requirements and patient care protocols.