Part B – Health Facility Briefing & Design

170 Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

International Health Facility Guidelines

Version 4 May 2014
Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

Table of Contents
170 Medical Imaging Unit - Nuclear Medicine ................................................................................ 3
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Planning ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
3 Design ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
4 Components of the Unit............................................................................................................................ 8
5 Schedule of Accommodation – Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine ......................................... 9
6 Functional Relationship Diagram – Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine ................................. 11
7 References and Further Reading ........................................................................................................... 12

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Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

170 Medical Imaging Unit - Nuclear Medicine

1 Introduction

Description
The Nuclear Medicine Unit provides facilities for the administration of radiopharmaceutical agents
to patients and patient imaging for diagnostic purposes and for treatment. The Nuclear Medicine
Unit may be provided within the Medical Imaging Unit or as a freestanding Unit. The Unit may or
may not include a Radiopharmacy Laboratory. The size of a unit in terms of numbers and type of
cameras will be determined by the service plan and clinical needs.

2 Planning

Model of Care
The model of care will depend on level of services provided as defined in the service plan and the
presence or otherwise of PET as a sub-component of the Nuclear Medicine Unit.

In large centres, it will be a discrete unit. If there are only one or two gamma cameras, it may be a
discrete sub-Unit of Medical Imaging.

All units will have a Hot Laboratory (Hot Lab). Large centres may or may not include a
Radiopharmacy Laboratory that will prepare its own radiopharmaceuticals for general use.

Planning Models
Location
A ground floor site is preferred but if this cannot be achieved, consideration should be given to
units above, below and adjoining the proposed location with regards to radiation shielding
requirements, the weight of equipment and associated shielding and access for equipment and
radioactive isotopes.

The Unit should not act as a thoroughfare to other units of the healthcare facility.
Unit Layout
Staff and patient flows in the Unit are critical to ensure that patients, staff and visitors are not
exposed to radiation as a result of travel through or adjacent to areas occupied by dosed patients
and scanning rooms. Effective layout can also reduce the need for costly radiation shielding.

Layout should address the need for separation of areas particularly patient and staff corridors and
entry areas for outpatients and inpatient on beds/ trolleys.

If provided, the Bone Density Room should be located near the entry to the Nuclear Medicine Unit
to ensure patients do not unnecessarily cross areas of radioactivity. The Bone Densitometry room
should be located away from dosed patients by distance or shielding to avoid interference to the
Bone Density Unit from high ambient radiation levels.

Functional Areas
The Nuclear Medicine Unit consists of the following functional areas:
 Reception/ Administration
 Waiting areas for outpatients and inpatients, including toilets
 Patient holding, observation and recovery area
 Treatment areas including gamma camera rooms, specialised scanning imaging rooms
(SPECT, PET, PET/CT, bone densitometry), stress testing facilities
 Support areas including utilities, staff station
 Hot Lab/ Radioactive Waste Store
 Staff areas including offices and amenities

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Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

 Teaching and research facilities (Tertiary Centres)

Patient Waiting
Waiting areas should allow separation of dosed and undosed patients, particularly as some
patients may need to wait for 45 minutes after dosing for uptake. It is also preferable to separate
dosed patients from relatives and visitors to the unit which may include young adults, pregnant
women and children. Dosed patients should have access to drinking water and toilet facilities
without having to access general waiting areas.

Outpatients should be separated from inpatients for privacy reasons with separate entrances.
Patient Holding, Observation and Recovery Area
An area will be required for patient holding, recovery and observation including the following:
 a dedicated inpatient entry
 curtained bed/ trolley bays for holding, observation and recovery; the configuration of the
overall space should permit both dosed and un-dosed patients to be held safely
 a small staff station with hand basin
 support rooms including Dirty Utility, Linen Bay, Sterile Stock Store
 Resuscitation trolley (trolley may be located near the Stress Testing Room).
Gamma Camera
The gamma camera is a device used in Nuclear Medicine to image gamma radiation emitting
radioisotopes to view and analyse images of the human body or the distribution of medically
injected, inhaled, or ingested radionuclides emitting gamma rays, producing a two dimensional
image.

The gamma camera consists of one or more flat crystal planes (detectors) optically coupled to an
array of photomultiplier tubes, the assembly is known as a "head", mounted on a gantry. The
gantry is connected to a computer system that both controls the operation of the camera as well
as acquisition and storage of acquired images. The gamma camera room will require a control
area and radiation screening as assessed by Radiation Consultants.
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
SPECT is a nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique using gamma rays, similar to the
conventional gamma camera planar imaging system that is able to provide true 3D information.
This information is typically presented as cross-sectional slices through the patient, but can be
freely reformatted or manipulated as required.

To acquire SPECT images, the gamma camera is rotated around the patient. Projections are
acquired at defined points during the rotation, typically every 3-6 degrees. In most cases, a full
360 degree rotation is used to obtain an optimal reconstruction. The time taken to obtain each
projection is also variable, but 15-20 seconds is typical. This gives a total scan time of 15-20
minutes.

A SPECT camera may be combined with a computerised tomography (CT) unit to form a hybrid
system and fusion imaging of the physiology and anatomy of the area/s being scanned.
SPECT/CT requires a separate control room and radiation screening in accordance with CT
requirements.
Viewing and Reporting Area
A dedicated room with dimmable lighting will be required for viewing and reporting on scans. Each
workstation should accommodate imaging screens, computers for access to imaging and patient
information systems, writing and shelving space for reference materials. The number of reporting
stations will depend on service level, number of scanning rooms and the staff establishment.
Hot Lab/ Dispensary and Radioactive Waste Store
Radioactive radiopharmaceuticals are stored and prepared ready for administration to the patient
in the Hot Lab. A lead screen barrier is required for the dispensary area. The Dispensary should
be located adjacent to the patient dosing room.

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Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

A radioactive waste storage area may also be incorporated into or adjacent to this space. Provide
radiation shielding as advised by Radiation Consultants. The Waste Store will require a sink and
basin with hands-free taps for hand washing and equipment decontamination.
Radiopharmacy
The Radiopharmacy is used for preparation, compounding, quality control and dispensing of
radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment. Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive isotopes
attached to pharmaceutical substances.

Only designated units will have an in-house Radiopharmacy laboratory where cold kits are
prepared; these may be used in-house or supplied to other Nuclear Medicine Units.

Many nuclear medicine units (e.g. private practices) may receive a daily delivery of the
radiopharmaceutical already prepared and dispensed as individual patient doses. Other isotopes/
radionuclides (e.g. gallium, thallium) are delivered weekly or monthly as required, pre-packaged
into individual doses for dispensing.
Storage - Equipment & Supplies
Storage is required for:
 collimators and scanning phantoms, within the scanning rooms
 mobile equipment such as wheelchairs, trolleys, lifters and ultrasound scanners, may be
located in equipment bays
 Technegas unit and large argon cylinder/s that may be located in an equipment bay; the
Technegas unit and trolley is taken to patients in holding bays or in the camera rooms for
patient to inhale Tc99m
 medical consumables and smaller equipment items
 sterile stock
 stationery
 records/ files
SPECT and SPECT/ CT Scanning Room -
The SPECT and SPECT/CT Scanning rooms will be used for patient imaging procedures using a
SPECT camera or combined SPECT/CT hybrid system. Installation of equipment should be in
accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. Room size may vary according to the
equipment selected

Scanning rooms require ready access from dosing rooms and dosed patient waiting areas.
Scanning rooms may be collocated with shared Control rooms to enable monitoring of two rooms
simultaneously.

Some special considerations for SPECT and SPECT/CT Rooms include:

 Floor structure should support the equipment weight.
 Uninterruptible power supply is required to the cameras and associated computer modules to
prevent data loss and/or damage during power surges or loss of supply
 Power to patient areas shall be body protected to protect against electric shock
 Individual room temperature and humidity control is required.
 Lighting should be placed to avoid lights shining directly into the patient’s eyes and should be
dimmable.
 Radiation shielding will be required according to assessment by the Radiation Consultant
 Bed/ trolley access is required to the room
 Fixtures, fittings and equipment within the room will include:
 Collimator rack/s for a range of collimator sizes should be included; the collimator is a
directional guide; the size and length of the collimator holes determine which gamma rays
reach the detector in the camera; collimator racks vary according to the model / level of
Gamma Camera.
 Patient ECG monitoring may be required in the room
 CCTV camera may be included (optional in SPECT/CT room).
 Lead apron rack and aprons will be required in the room or immediately adjacent.
 hand basin - Type B with paper towel and soap fittings
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 Television, ceiling or wall mounted is optional.

 Bench and shelving for preparation and storage may be provided.

Services will include:

 medical gases - oxygen, suction, medical air on service panel
 nurse and emergency call system
 power outlets for patient equipment on the medical services panel and additional power on all
walls
 computer data points on patient services panel, near gamma camera unit and in control
areas
Store - Radioactive Waste
This room will store radioactive waste materials.

Ready access to the Hot Laboratory is required. Lead lining is required to ensure safe protection
of radioactive materials.
Bone Densitometry Room
Bone densitometry is a non-invasive procedure using a special x-ray scanning machine to
determine bone density or strength. It is used to identify those at risk of developing osteoporosis
and to monitor change in bone density.

The bone densitometry room maybe located within the radiology or nuclear medicine department.
The room may have radiation shielding to walls and/or glazing as advised by a Radiation
Consultant.

Functional Relationships
The Nuclear Medicine Unit should be located with ready access to the Medical Imaging Unit, PET
Unit if provided, Emergency Unit, Operating Unit and Critical Care areas. It requires easy access
for ambulant patients and beds/ stretchers.

3 Design

Construction Standards
Construction Standards for a Nuclear Medicine Unit include the following:
 Flooring shall be adequate to meet load requirements for equipment, patients, and
personnel.
 Floors and walls should be constructed of materials that are easily decontaminated in case of
radioactive spills.
 Walls should contain necessary support systems for either built-in or mobile oxygen and
vacuum and; vents for radioactive gases.
 Provision for cable trays, ducts or conduits should be made in floors, walls, and ceilings as
required.
 Ceiling height should be a minimum of 3 metres.
 Ceiling mounted equipment should have properly designed rigid support structures located
above the finished ceiling.
 A lay-in type ceiling should be considered for ease of installation, service and future
remodelling.

Environmental Considerations
Acoustics
Acoustic treatment will be required to the following areas:
 SPECT/CT scanning rooms (hybrid units may be noisy)
 Viewing / reporting room
 Consulting rooms

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Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

Refer also to acoustic requirements identified in Standard Components Room Data Sheets.
Natural Light
Natural light is desirable in all patient areas, staff room and staff offices. Lighting level in reporting
rooms needs to be adjustable. External windows provided in scanning and uptake rooms should
be assessed by a Radiation Consultant for shielding requirements.

Safety and Security

The Nuclear Medicine Unit shall include a safety shower with an eyewash station for use in the
event of radioactive spills.

Finishes
Floor finishes and junctions should be smooth, impervious and non-absorbent in case of radiation
spills.

Building Service Requirements

Radiation Protection
Plans and specifications will require assessment for radiation protection by a certified physicist or
other qualified expert, as required by the appropriate state authorities. The radiation protection
assessment will specify the type, location and amount of radiation protection required according to
the final equipment selections and layout. Radiation protection requirements shall be incorporated
into the final specifications and the building plans.

Radiation shielding will be required to a number of areas as advised by Radiation Consultants

including:
 Reception and rooms adjacent to dosed patient rooms
 Dosing/ Consult Exam rooms
 Hot Lab/ Dispensing room/ Radiopharmacy
 Pre-scan uptake rooms/ dosed waiting areas, patient toilets
 Cardiac Stress Testing Room
 Scanning Room/s
 Post scanning waiting areas
 Bone Densitometry Room
Hydraulic Services
Ceiling spaces above gamma cameras and specialty scanning units should not be used for
hydraulic services or air-conditioning ducts, to avoid damage to equipment from leakages.

The need for delayed holding tanks within the Nuclear Medicine Unit will require assessment by
the Radiation Consultant.
Mechanical Services
Additional cooling and ventilation will be required to Scanning Rooms and associated computer
equipment rooms as the equipment is sensitive to excessive ambient heat. Some scanners may
require chilled water for cooling. Large temperature changes (greater than 400C per hour) within
scanning rooms need to be avoided to reduce the risk of crystal fracture in gamma cameras.
Additional air extraction or exhaust may be required to Camera Room/s where ventilation agents
such as Technegas are administered.

In the restricted areas of Patient Examination Room and Storage and Preparation areas, if
radioactive gas Xenon is being used, special ventilation is required. Ventilation requirements
would be in accordance with relevant Guidelines. The restricted area should be kept under
negative pressure by exhausting at least 15 % more air than supply air. Recirculation of air from
these spaces should not be permitted.

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Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

It is recommended that the Storage and Preparation areas be generally equipped with a special
radioisotope fume hood. This system may need to be fabricated from non-ferrous materials.
Exhaust registers should be located at floor and ceiling levels

General air conditioning inpatient and staff areas needs to be adjustable for patient and staff
comfort; the temperature of the Unit should not exceed 25°C.

Smoke detectors in treatment rooms should be sensitive to radiation.

Hot Lab room air should be negatively pressured and exhausted, not recirculated. The Hot Lab
may include a fume cabinet which will require exhausting.

Rooms in which Technegas is used should be negatively pressured to the rest of the Unit.

4 Components of the Unit

The Nuclear Medicine Unit will contain to comply with details described in these Guidelines. Refer
to Standard Components Room Data Sheets and Room Layout Sheets.

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5 Schedule of Accommodation – Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

Entry/Reception Area
ROOM/ SPACE Standard Level4 Level 5 Level 6 Remarks
Component Qty x m2 Qty x m2 Qty x m2
RECEPTION RECL-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10 1 x 15
RECL-15-I
WAITING – MALE/FEMALE WAIT-10-I 2 x 10 2 x 15 2 x 20 Separate Male/female areas
WAIT-20-I
MEETING ROOM – SMALL MEET-9-I 1 x 9 1 x 9 1 x 12
MEET-12-I
OFFICE – SHARED OFF-2P-I 1 x 12 1 x 12 1 x 15 2/ 3 staff
OFF-3P-I
STORE – PHOTOCOPY/STATIONERY STPS-8-I 1 x 8 1 x 8 1 x 10
STPS-10-I
STORE - FILES STFS-8-I 1 x 8 1 x 8 1 x 10
STFS-10-I

Patient & Support Areas

ROOM/ SPACE Standard Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Remarks
Component Qty x m2 Qty x m2 Qty x m2
WAITING – UNDOSED WAIT-SUB-I 2 x 5 2 x 5 2 x 5 Separate Male/female areas
(MALE/FEMALE) WAIT-10-I
PLAY AREA – PAEDIATRIC PLAP-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10 1 x 10
optional
PATIENT BAY – HOLDING PBTR-H-10-I 2 x 10 3 x 10 8 x 10 Separate Male/female areas
(MALE/FEMALE)
BAY - BEVERAGE BBEV-OP-I 1 x 4 1 x 4 1 x 4

BAY – HANDWASHING BHWS-B-I 1 x 1 1 x 1 2 x 1

BAY – LINEN BLIN-I 1 x 2 1 x 2 2 x 2

BAY – RESUSCITATION TROLLEY BRES-I 1 x 1.5 1 x 1.5 1 x 1.5

CLEANER’S ROOM CLRM-5-I 1 x 5 1 x 5 1 x 5

CONSULT ROOM CONS-I 1 x 14 2 x 14 4 x 14 Qty dependent on Service

Plan
DIRTY UTILITY – SUB DTUR-S-I 1 x 8 1 x 8 1 x 10
DTUR-10-I
DISPOSAL ROOM DISP-5-I 1 x 5 1 x 8 1 x 10 May be shared at Level 4
DISP-8-I
STAFF STATION/ CLEAN UTILITY SSCU -I 1 x 9 1 x 9 1 x 9

STORE – STERILE STOCK STSS-12-I 1 x 6 1 x 12 1 x 12

TOILET - ACCESSIBLE WCAC-I 2 x 6 2 x 6 4 x 6

PATENT
SHOWER – PATIENT SHPT-I 2 x 4 2 x 4 4 x 4
MALE/FEMALE
CIRCULATION ALLOWANCE % 35% 35% 35%

Treatment Areas
ROOM/ SPACE Standard Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Remarks
Component Qty x m2 Qty x m2 Qty x m2
GAMMA CAMERA ROOMS GCAM-I 1 x 38 1 x 38 1 x 38
(WITH INTERNAL CONTROL)
SPECT SCANNING ROOM GCAM-I 1 x 42 2 x 42 Size to suit equipment
(WITH CONTROL ROOM) similar
SPECT/C.T SCANNING ROOM 1 x 48 1 x 48

SPECT/C.T SCANNING ANCRT-I 1 x 14 1 x 14

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CONTROL ROOM similar

COMPUTER EQUIPMENT ROOM COEQ-I 1 x 8 3 x 8 4 x 8

STRESS TESTING STRT-I 1 x 12 1 x 12 2 x 12

BONE DENSITOMETRY 1 x 16 1 x 16

BAY – MOBILE EQUIPMENT BMEQ-6-I 1 x 6 2 x 6 4 x 6 Qty according to equipment

to be accommodated
PROCEDURE ROOM PROC-20-I 1 x 20 Optional

VIEWING/REPORTING ROOM XRRR-I 1 x 12 1 x 12 1 x 12

CIRCULATION ALLOWANCE % 35% 35% 35%

Hot Laboratory Areas

ROOM/ SPACE Standard Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Remarks
Component Qty x m2 Qty x m2 Qty x m2
ENTRY LOBBY ISOTOPE DELIVERY AIRL-6-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 1 x 6 Refer to Airlock
optional optional optional
HOT LABORATORY HTLB-I 1 x 10 1 x 12 1 x 12
(RADIOPHARMACY) similar
STORE – RADIOACTIVE WASTE 1 x 20 1 x 20

BAY – EMERGENCY SHOWER BES-I 2 x 1 2 x 1 2 x 1 Decontamination; privacy

screened
BAY – PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE BPPE-I 1 x 1.5 1 x 1.5 1 x 1.5
EQUIPMENT)

Staff Support Areas

ROOM/ SPACE Standard Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Remarks
Component Qty x m2 Qty x m2 Qty x m2
OFFICE – SINGLE PERSON 12M2 OFF-S12-I 1 x 12 1 x 12 Director

OFFICE – SINGLE PERSON, 9M2 OFF-S9-I 1 x 9 1 x 9 1 x 9 Nursing Personnel

OFFICE – SINGLE PERSON, 9M2 OFF-S9-I 1 x 9 2 x 9 4 x 9 Medical specialist etc.; Qty

depends on service plan
OFFICE – WORKSTATIONS OFF-WS-I 3 x 5.5 4 x 5.5 6 x 5.5 Qty depends on service plan

MEETING ROOM MEET-L-15-I 1 x 15 1 x 15 2 x 20 Qty depends on service plan

MEET-L-20-I
STAFF ROOM – MALE/FEMALE SRM-15-I 2 x 15 2 x 20 Separate Male/female areas
SRM-20-I
CHANGE - STAFF (MALE/FEMALE) CHST-10-I 2 x 10 2 x 14 2 x 20 Separate Male/female areas
CHST-20-I

Please note the following:

 Areas noted in Schedules of Accommodation take precedence over all other areas noted in
the FPU.
 Rooms indicated in the schedule reflect the typical arrangement according to the Role
Delineation.
 Exact requirements for room quantities and sizes will reflect Key Planning Units identified in
the service plan and the policies of the Unit.
 Room sizes indicated should be viewed as a minimum requirement; variations are acceptable
to reflect the needs of individual Unit.
 Office areas are to be provided according to the Unit role delineation and number of
endorsed full time positions in the unit.
 Staff and support rooms may be shared between Functional Planning Units dependant on
location and accessibility to each unit and may provide scope to reduce duplication of
facilities.

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6 Functional Relationship Diagram – Medical Imaging Unit – Nuclear Medicine

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7 References and Further Reading

 Australasian Health Facility Guidelines, Part B Health Facility Briefing and Planning, Rev 5,
2012; refer to website www.healthfacilitydesign.com.au
 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities; The Facility Guidelines
Institute, 2010 Edition; refer to website www.fgiguidelines.org
 NHS Estates, Department of Health Estates and Facilities Division, 14-01, Pharmacy and
Radiopharmacy, HMSO, London, 2008, refer to website www.estatesknowledge.dh.gov.uk
 NHS Estates, Department of Health Estates and Facilities Division, HBN 6 Facilities for
diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology, HMSO, London, 2001, refer to website
www.estatesknowledge.dh.gov.uk

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