2009-05-28
12:26:36
Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre says the shortage of medical isotopes may force it to postpone some of its procedures that require the isotopes.
The Chalk River reactor, that produces half the global supply of radioactive isotopes used in medical imaging, will be down for at least three months for repairs.
It was shut down May 15 after a power outage in parts of eastern Ontario and a heavy-water leak was detected the next day.
Hospital officials say they've received about half of the isotopes they usually gets, forcing them to identify priority cases to maximize supply.
