Answer to Question #12386 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues — Questions Concerning Domestic Animals
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q
My husband is going to have a nuclear stress test next week. He is to avoid coming within 3.048 m of small children and pregnant women for 24–48 hours post-test. I am concerned about our cat, as I'm assuming if a young child can potentially be affected, a small animal could as well.
A
The cat is not a concern. The recommendation for your husband to avoid coming within 3.048 m of small children and pregnant women for 24–48 hours after the test is a very conservative precaution. The precaution is not based on size. It is based on the fact that developing cells present in children and fetuses are more sensitive to radiation than fully developed cells.
Victoria (Vicki) Morris, MS, CHP
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Answer posted on 17 May 2018. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.
