RADIOLABELED THYMIDINE SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION PURIFICATION METHOD

A method and an apparatus for the manufacture of 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]Fluorothymidine are disclosed. A fluorothymidine precursor, a reaction solvent for the fluorothymidine precursor, a source of [18F] ions, and dilution water are combined to form a reaction mixture including a radiolabeled thymidine product, [18F] ions, and residual reaction impurities. The reaction mixture is passed through a solid phase extraction cartridge. The solid phase extraction cartridge includes a solid sorbent to adsorb the radiolabeled thymidine product on the sorbent, and a portion of the residual reaction impurities pass through solid phase extraction cartridge without adsorbing on the sorbent. Any remaining impurities on the sorbent are washed off with water, and the radiolabeled thymidine product is eluted off the sorbent using an alkanol solvent. The eluted radiolabeled thynidine product is dried and reconstituted in water before any further extraction steps. The method and apparatus do not require the use of high-pressure liquid chromatography.