Dye shortage for bone scans?

[Surbie]

I'm not meaning to scaremonger by this at all, but is there one? And how?

Friend's horse needs a bone scan as she's lame behind and blocks haven't helped narrow things down, but Liphook appears to have a shortage of dye and first appt she's been offered is December. The vet practice has said they've phoned round to see if they can refer elsewhere and other places are also experiencing a shortage. Horse has been lame for a while and my friend is naturally anxious to find out why.

 

[ester]

I’ve seen this a few times on Facebook in tbe last few weeks so I think yes there is one

 

[Surbie]

Have there been any suggestions as to why?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

My mare is in horsepital and vet wanted to refer for bone scan today. no isotope available nationwide

 

[Birker2020]

New details emerge on looming medical isotope shortage

The supply of Mo-99 and Tc-99m—the most commonly utilized medical isotopes in the world—could be cut by as much as 40% until the reactor in the Netherlands is up and running again.

healthimaging.com

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Isotopes are due third week in November…my mare has just. Even booked in for then..

 

[Bumblepony]

When my boy had his bone scan last year we had one booked in then there was a shortage of the isotope, I was lucky in that the shortage resolved after a couple of weeks but I think there was still a bit of worry at the time as to whether they'd get any, stressful especially as we were slightly up against it timewise with an insurance claim. It's very difficult when you are waiting isn't it, I hope things resolve soon

 

[Surbie]

New details emerge on looming medical isotope shortage

The supply of Mo-99 and Tc-99m—the most commonly utilized medical isotopes in the world—could be cut by as much as 40% until the reactor in the Netherlands is up and running again.

healthimaging.com

For some reason I didn't get a notification about your reply - thanks for the article Birker, very useful. I've passed it on to my friend.