What is a potential consequence of using inadequate amounts of 99Mo in generator systems?

Using inadequate amounts of 99Mo in generator systems primarily leads to decreased radiochemical purity. This happens because the amount of molybdenum-99 (99Mo) directly affects the production of technetium-99m (99mTc), the most commonly used radioisotope in nuclear medicine.

When the quantity of 99Mo is insufficient, the resulting yield of 99mTc is not only lower but can also include unwanted byproducts or impurities. This decline in quality can compromise the purity of the radiopharmaceutical, potentially leading to the presence of other radionuclides or chemical contaminants in the final preparation. Such impurities can affect the reliability of diagnostic results and the overall safety of the radiopharmaceutical used for patient care.

Maintaining optimal amounts of 99Mo is crucial for ensuring that the radiochemical purity of 99mTc is high, which is essential for effective imaging and therapeutic applications.