Abstract

This article is an overview of radioactive tracers technology. The general approaches for the synthesis of labeled compounds, such as organic chemical methods and biochemical techniques, are described. The factors affecting the stability of labeled compounds are discussed, along with methods of detection and quantitation of the commonly used radioactive isotopes. Considerations in the safe handling of radioactive tracers and regulatory issues related to working with radioactive materials are summarized. The uses and applications of labeled compounds in biomedical research, clinical practice, pharmaceutical development, gene analysis, and agricultural experiments are discussed.