Which tracer is commonly used in the process of labeling red blood cells?

Stannous chloride is commonly used in the process of labeling red blood cells due to its role as a reducing agent that helps to incorporate technetium-99m into the red blood cells. When performing red blood cell labeling, stannous chloride provides the necessary environment for technetium-99m to be effectively taken up by the cells, which can then be tracked for imaging purposes.

In this context, technetium-99m is the most prevalent radionuclide used in nuclear medicine because of its favorable properties, such as its half-life and the types of emissions it generates. However, Cr51 (chromium-51) is also an option, but it is less favored due to accessibility and safety concerns.

Technetium-97 is not relevant in this context, as it is less commonly used in practice and does not have the established safety and effectiveness for labeling red blood cells when compared to technetium-99m.

Thus, the use of stannous chloride in the red blood cell labeling process is critical for ensuring effective imaging and safety in nuclear medicine procedures.