B.C. patients advised of unplanned halt in production of vital medical isotopes

VANCOUVER – The Ontario facility that produces most of the medical isotopes used across North America has been forced to unexpectedly interrupt its supply, leading to an advisory to patients needing treatment in British Columbia.

Health Shared Services BC, which helps co-ordinate the operations of B.C.’s six health authorities, is reporting the unplanned interruption of medical isotope molybdenum 99, supplied by Chalk River Laboratories.

B.C. health officials say there is no immediate impact to patients and the lab hopes to resume supplies in the coming days, but health authorities are also working to develop contingency plans to manage any shortages.

Molybdenum 99 is used in nuclear medicine for bone scanning and checking heart function, and isotopes are also used to a lesser extent for thyroid, lung, liver, and other organ imaging.

Recent shutdowns of the aging Chalk River reactor, which is run by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., have caused global concerns because the facility produces about 40 per cent of all medical isotopes used around the world.

An information bulletin issued by Atomic Energy Canada earlier this week announced repairs to a fuel rod flask would prevent it from meeting isotope deliveries this week but deliveries were anticipated to resume this weekend.