Customer updates

UPDATE: COVID-19

19 March 2020

As news continues to emerge regarding COVID-19, we thought it timely to provide an update to you.

For us at ANSTO, sustainable operations and the reliable supply of nuclear medicine to Australia is always a priority. Please find below an update on our contingencies in order to best manage the risks and impact of COVID-19.

There is currently no impact to our local operations.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

ANSTO staff are adopting the appropriate changes to minimise the risks of infection to our health products team.

We are working closely with all stakeholders to monitor our logistics and supply chain to ensure the priority remains on supply of essential nuclear medicine.

Overseas supply

We are considering the impact of overseas supply during the upcoming scheduled maintenance for our nuclear medicine processing and distribution facility and our OPAL reactor.

As we gain further detail from our international supply chain, we’ll provide updates.

Keeping you informed

ANSTO will continue to provide regular updates to customers directly on our website. If you have any further questions please contact the customer service team on: 1800 251 572 or + 61 2 9717 9992

UPDATE: ANSTO scheduled maintenance

24 February 2020

ANSTO will undertake scheduled preventative maintenance shutdown of its Nuclear Medicine processing and distribution facility, also known as building 23 and its OPAL Reactor in 2020.

The shut-down of the Nuclear Medicine processing and distribution facility is scheduled for 14th April – 13th May. The work undertaken during this shut-down will enable the continuation of safe operations and reliable supply of nuclear medicines for Australia for building 23.

In consultation with members from the Australian nuclear medicine community, it was agreed the timing of this shut-down period had the least impact on our customers as it fell across the Easter – ANZAC holiday period and the 50th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine.

All products, with the exception of ¹²³Sodium Iodine solution, will continue to be available during the shut-down period.

In addition the scheduled preventative maintenance shutdown of the OPAL reactor, which was postponed at the end of 2019, will proceed from 1st – 28th June.

During the period of these shut-downs, ANSTO will work with our international partners to ensure the continuity of supply to the Australian nuclear medicine community.

Please refer to the information below (under Supply Chain) that illustrates the key adjustments to our supply chain during each of these shut-down periods and the product availability information (below) to outline supply during these periods.

As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to the nuclear medicine community, ANSTO will ensure that the $3.7M of incremental costs associated with importing product, will be absorbed and not be passed on to our customers.

Thank you to the Nuclear Medicine Advisory Board and Working Group, with representation from RAINS, ANZSNM, AANMS, NSW Health, TGA and GMS, who have helped to communicate the importance of this scheduled maintenance work to support the long term reliability of supply.

Product availability

Take a look at our adjusted supply information regarding each of our products.

Nuclear medicine

Technetium-99 generators

Adjusted timing: 14 April - 13 May

ANSTO actions:

Alternate supply secured for the whole period
3 Generator sizes will be available (5Ci, 7.5Ci & 15Ci)

Lutetium-177

Adjusted timing: 14 April - 13 May

ANSTO actions:

ANSTO to import

Chromium-51

Adjusted timing: 14 April - 13 May

ANSTO actions:

No impact on supply

Iodine-131 capsules

Adjusted timing: 27 April - 15 May

ANSTO actions:

Orders for the period 27 April until 15 May need to be placed by 1pm 24 April
Product requests after 24 April are limited to 3 sizes

Iodine-131 solutions - small-50MBq to 1200MBq

Adjusted timing: 27 April - 15 May

ANSTO actions:

Orders for 27 April until 15 May need to be placed by 1pm 24 April
Re-supply from Mon 18th May

Iodine-131 solutions - large-1201MBq to 10000MBq

Adjusted timing: 27 April - 15 May

ANSTO actions:

Orders for 27 April until 30 April need to be placed by 1pm 24 April
Product is unavailable from 1 May to 15 May
Re-supply from 18 May

Sodium-123 Iodine solution

Adjusted timing: 29 April - 19 May

ANSTO actions:

Supply will not be available

MIBG-123 & MIBG-131

Adjusted timing: 29 April - 19 May

ANSTO actions:

No impact on supply

Supply flow

Frequently asked questions

Technetium-99 Generators

Will I be able to obtain supply of Technetium -99 Generators?

Yes, ANSTO customer service representative will be in contact with you shortly.
ANSTO will import a range of generator sizes during 14 April – 13 May.
Imported Mo-99 will be loaded onto Gentech Generators between 1 – 28 June.

How do I elute the imported LMI generator?

Refer to the related product information sheet for guidance. Product information sheets can be found on the TGA website.

How can I remind myself about elution profiles for LMI imported generators?

A decay calculator table will shortly be available on this website

Iodine products

Will I be able to obtain supplies of Iodine-131 capsules?

Yes but orders are best placed in advance.

Orders for the period 27th April until 15^th May need to be placed by 1pm 24^th April.
Product requests after 24^th April are limited to 6 sizes.

What are the sizes of the pre-made I-131 capsules available to order after the 27th April until 15th May?

150, 275, 600, 777, 1098 and 1423MBq – Calibrated 9.00am Monday 4^th May.

The decay tables for Iodine capsules products are shown below.

Are there any special patient considerations to be aware of?

Patients with Thyroid cancer may require multiple capsules toward the end of week 2 due to calibration decay.

The full range will be available for delivery from Monday 18^th May

Will I be able to obtain supplies of Iodine-131 solutions – sizes from 50MBq to 1200MBq

Yes, if orders are placed in advance by 1pm April 24– sizes from 50MBq to 1200MBq only
Large Iodine-131 solutions sizes – 1201 MBq to 10,000MBq will not be available from 1 - 15 May
Imported Iodine-131 supply is secure between 1 - 28 June
Orders for small solutions from 27 April until 15 May need to be placed by 1pm 24 April. Re-supply from Mon 18 May onwards
Orders for large solutions from 27 - 30 April need to be placed by 1pm 24 April. Re-supply from Monday 18 May onwards

Will I be able to obtain supplies of Sodium-123 Iodine solution?

Supply of Sodium-123 Iodine solution is not possible across the two periods of shutdown. Please seek alternate supply

Will I be able to obtain supplies of 131 / 123 MIBG?

There is no impact on supply, ANSTO will supply across these shutdown periods

Other products

Will I be able to obtain supplies of Lutetium-177?

ANSTO will import Lu-177 from our international back up suppler ITG.
Orders to be placed as follows:

2/4 for 13/4 delivery
9/4 for 20/4 delivery
16/4 for 27/4 delivery
23/4 for 4/4 delivery
30/4 for 11/4 delivery

Will I be able to obtain supplies Chromium-51

There is no impact on supply, ANSTO will supply its own Chromium-51 product across the two periods of shutdown.

General questions

How will I know if an overseas delivery has been delayed?

The customer service team will notify each customer by email and text message.

This customer updates page will also feature the latest information on product availability.

You can also contact the customer service team on 1800 251 572 or +61 2 9717 9992

Who will absorb the additional costs of international transport, additional price and waste disposal?

I have an urgent question, who can I call?

Contact the customer service team on 1800 251 572 or +61 2 9717 9992