Performance assessment of a NaI(Tl) gamma counter for PET applications with methods for improved quantitative accuracy and greater standardization

Background: Although NaI(Tl) gamma counters play an important role in many quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) protocols, their calibration for positron-emitting samples has not been standardized across imaging sites. In this study, we characterized the operational range of a gamma counter specifically for positron-emitting radionuclides, and we assessed the role of traceable ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga sources for standardizing system calibration. Methods: A NaI(Tl) gamma counter was characterized with respect to count rate performance, adequacy of detector shielding, system stability, and sample volume effects using positron-emitting radionuclides (409- to 613-keV energy window). System efficiency was measured using ¹⁸F and compared with corresponding data obtained using a long-lived ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga source that was implicitly traceable to a national standard. Results: One percent count loss was measured at 450 × 10³ counts per minute. Penetration of the detector shielding by 511-keV photons gave rise to a negligible background count rate. System stability tests showed a coefficient of variation of 0.13% over 100 days. For a sample volume of 4 mL, the efficiencies relative to those at 0.1 mL were 0.96, 0.94, 0.91, 0.78, and 0.72 for ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹²⁵I, ^99mTc, and ⁵¹Cr, respectively. The efficiency of a traceable ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga source was 30.1% ± 0.07% and was found to be in close agreement with the efficiency for ¹⁸F after consideration of the different positron fractions. Conclusions: Long-lived ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga reference sources, implicitly traceable to a national metrology institute, can aid standardization of gamma counter calibration for ¹⁸F. A characteristic feature of positron emitters meant that accurate calibration could be maintained over a wide range of sample volumes by using a narrow energy window centered on the 511-keV peak.