Skip to main content
Supply schedule updates from our Health products customer service team

Delivery schedule

 

OPAL’s planned maintenance shutdown now underway

18 March 2024

As planned, on Monday 18 March 2024 OPAL's maintenance shutdown commenced. The ANSTO team has been diligently working to secure continuity of supply of critical nuclear medicine for our Australian customers.

We have implemented a considered and strategic approach to mitigating supply chain interruptions.

  • We’ve taken steps to diversify our supplier base where possible, importing product from multiple suppliers, across six different countries.
  • Our team have put in place strong partnerships with our international suppliers, and we expect to be able to deliver the best possible availability of nuclear medicine throughout the maintenance shutdown period.
  • Customers will continue to hear from us regularly throughout the shutdown timeframe.

Please reach out to our team via health@ansto.gov.au if you have any further questions.

OPAL 2024 shutdown: update on supply

February 2024

As previously communicated, OPAL, Australia’s only multi-purpose nuclear reactor, will undergo essential maintenance and upgrades this year.

ANSTO’s preparation ahead of this shutdown is well underway and running to plan.

Current planned shutdown dates are Monday 18 March 2024 to Friday 5 July 2024. Any changes in these dates will be communicated with our stakeholders.

Nuclear Medicine Processing and Distribution Facility maintenance

  • For a period of the shutdown (approximately 10 weeks) we will also conduct maintenance on our Nuclear Medicine Processing and Distribution Facility. The current planned dates for this are Monday 25 March 2024 to Sunday 2 June 2024.
  • Conducting maintenance on two of our key facilities that enable nuclear medicine supply simultaneously will help support reliable supply for Australian patients into the future.
  • This maintenance will replace the regular scheduled shutdown of our Nuclear Medicine Processing and Distribution Facility in 2024, which usually occurs in September or October each year.

Product supply

  • ANSTO has been working productively with alternative suppliers to source supply for the domestic market during this period.
  • We have broadened our supply networks by establishing new supply arrangements with international suppliers.
  • These supply arrangements, while always subject to the usual risks of disruptions that can occur in nuclear medicine production, will enable ANSTO to provide some supply of critical nuclear medicine products during the shutdown period.
  • We’ve been working to minimise disruption wherever possible; however, where ANSTO imports product, we are subject to our suppliers’ product availability and logistics.
  • Products that are currently being imported and distributed like Cold Kits (MAA, DTPA and MDP), Iodine-123 MIBG, Iodine-131 MIBG and Gallium-68 generators should not be affected by the shutdown.
  • A summary of our nuclear medicine products and their planned availability is below.
  • You will notice that supply of Lu-177, bulk I-131, and Cr-51 is due to recommence later in the month of July 2024; these resupply dates align with current supply scheduling and take into consideration the reactor’s restart schedule.
ProductSupplySupply recommences (planned)
Tc-99m generatorsImport supply planned from 27 March – 3 June 2024Gentech generators supply planned from week commencing 3 June 2024
Lu-177Import supply planned from 1 April – 22 July 2024Week commencing 22 July 2024
I-131 capsules and solutionsImport supply planned from week commencing 8 April – 19 June 2024Thursday 20 June 2024
I-131 bulkNo supply available from 18 March – 29 July 2024Week commencing 29 July 2024
I-123 radiochemicalNo supply available from 1 April – 4 June 2024Week commencing 3 June 2024
Cr-51Last calibration date 1 April 2024Delivery from 1 August 2024

Please note: 
Lu-177 n.c.a and Tc-99m customers have been sent order cut off and revised delivery schedules. I-131 capsules and solutions customers will receive order cut off dates via email mid February.
 

We’ll provide regular updates

We will continue to supply and maintenance updates before, during, and after the upgrades and scheduled shutdown have taken place.

For further information on OPAL's 2024 maintenance shutdown, click here.

Please reach out to our team via health@ansto.gov.au if you have any further questions.

I-131 Capsules

13 March 2024

ANSTO has now completed investigation into the identified appearance defect observed in a small number of Sodium (I-131) 50-6000MBq Therapy Capsules, which we advised Customers of on 5 June 2023. 

Following our review, ANSTO has obtained TGA approval and implemented supplementary strengthening into the capsule gelatine casing.

From 18 March 2024, all I-131 Therapy Capsules will include the supplementary strengthening and will again be available to order in the following sizings. 

•    Small capsules 50-600MBq at calibration
•    Large capsules 700-6000MBq at calibration

Please reach out to our team via health@ansto.gov.au if you have any further questions.

Delivery and calibration

I-123 radiochemical

Order cut-off time remains 5 pm on Wednesday the week prior to the shipment unless otherwise specified. 

Available for delivery and calibration on the following dates:

  • 26 March 2024
  • 04 June 2024
  • 18 June 2024
  • 02 July 2024
  • 17 July 2024 - Wednesday
  • 30 July 2024

26 March 2024 is the last supply date before our scheduled maintenance period. I123mIBG remains available during this time. 

I-123 MIBG

Order cut-off time 5 pm on Thursday the week prior to the shipment unless otherwise specified.

Deliveries will take place on the following Thursdays:

  • 28 March 2024
  • 11 April 2024
  • 25 April 2024
  • 09 May 2024
  • 23 May 2024
  • 30 May 2024
  • 13 June 2024
  • 27 June 2024
  • 11 July 2024
  • 25 July 2024

We will endeavour to keep all hospitals updated as soon we have any further information. We still face some domestic challenges surrounding flights and will continue to be in contact with you regarding the final delivery time to your hospital.   

Get in touch

If you would like to place a product order or have any further questions please contact the Health team.