Final answer:
The label of a bulk radiopharmaceutical container must include critical details such as the name of the radiopharmaceutical, radionuclide, chemical form, radioactivity amount, volume, calibration and expiration times, half-life, warnings, and storage conditions to assess safety and usage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The information required on the label of the immediate container of a bulk radiopharmaceutical product includes the name of the radiopharmaceutical, the radionuclide, the chemical form, the amount of radioactivity expressed in units such as millicuries (mCi) or becquerels (Bq), the volume if it is a liquid, the calibration time, and the expiration time/date. For example, if a product has an activity expressed as mCi/mL, you can calculate the volume for the desired dose. The label should also have safety warnings and storage conditions as well as the half-life of the radiopharmaceutical, which can be short or long, affecting how the substance behaves within the body, such as how quickly it passes through the digestive system or if it can become lodged.
Understanding the label information is crucial in the event that someone accidentally swallows radioactive material since it allows medical professionals to assess the possible damage. They would consider the substance's activity, the amount ingested, the half-life, and the biological behavior of the radiopharmaceutical within the human body, including factors like its retention time and distribution. This assessment helps to determine the radiation dose received by the patient and the potential health risks.