A shipment of a Tc-99m labeled radiopharmaceutical arrives at your outpatient clinic, but the outer carton is crushed on one corner and the radioactive label is partially torn. No liquid or powder is visible, and the tote is still sealed. You are the only technologist on duty. Which package receipt step must you complete first?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
A damaged shipment isn’t a routine delivery—it’s like a warning light you shouldn’t ignore. Keep the package sealed, restrict access, and call the radiation safety officer before anyone opens it; follow the procedure for surveying the package.
Full Explanation
The correct first step is to leave the damaged carton sealed, restrict access, and contact the radiation safety officer (RSO) before anyone opens it. The crushed corner and torn radioactive label make this an abnormal package receipt, so the RSO should guide the response before routine handling continues; the absence of visible liquid or powder does not establish that the package is intact. Surveying the sealed package and recording readings are standard receipt tasks, but doing them before the call postpones the required escalation. Completing damage and receipt documentation is also useful, yet paperwork should not take precedence over notifying the RSO about the damaged package. Moving the tote to a designated receiving area may be routine for an intact delivery, but relocating this visibly damaged package before obtaining the RSO’s direction adds handling and may complicate control of the area. Exam caveat: routine package-receipt steps for an intact shipment do not necessarily apply when damage or a compromised radioactive label is observed; follow local procedures and applicable regulations. Practical check: keep others away, do not open or unnecessarily handle the tote, and give the RSO the shipment details and a clear description of the damage when you call.