Radiopharmaceutical Isotope Production Directorate
The Radiopharmaceutical Isotope Production Directorate is accredited by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) and has held ISO 9001:2015 certification since 2019. The Directorate adheres to ISO 2919 standards in sealed radioactive source manufacturing to ensure quality and safety in line with the highest international standards.
Since late 2018, the Directorate has produced and supplied the radioisotope Iodine-131 (I-131) to hospitals and nuclear medicine centers across the Kingdom, meeting their full demand for this isotope, which is used in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. This is achieved through meticulous technical procedures, including quality assurance, quality control, and type verification.
In 2019, the production scope expanded to include Iridium-192 (Ir-192), a radioisotope widely used in non-destructive testing (NDT). Supply commenced in response to the needs of specialized companies.
In coordination with the Jordan Research and Training Reactor Directorate, the Directorate also provides irradiation services for several elements inside the reactor. These irradiated materials are then prepared and shipped abroad—particularly to specialized laboratories of international companies in Europe and Canada. Key irradiated elements include:
Terbium-161 (Tb-161), used in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Yttrium-90 (Y-90), used in liver cancer treatment and currently under research and development.
The work of the Radiopharmaceutical Isotope Production Directorate is divided into three main teams, each managed by specialized work groups with defined tasks to ensure performance integration and achieve the highest efficiency levels:
Isotope Production Team
This team is responsible for producing radioactive isotopes for medical and industrial use, primarily Iodine-131, which is prepared weekly and distributed pharmaceutically in the required doses. It also prepares sealed Iridium-192 sources upon request from local technical inspection companies. The team also oversees technical development efforts to introduce new isotopes, most notably Technetium-99m.
Production Control Team
This team specializes in conducting quality control tests on medical and industrial radioactive isotopes produced at the reactor, including those still in research and development stages. These tests ensure product compliance with technical specifications and international pharmacopoeias. The team also follows up on local orders and coordinates with stakeholders to ensure accurate delivery and service quality.
Packaging and Shipping Team
This team is responsible for packaging radioactive isotopes of various types and activity levels, including those processed under the irradiation service. It manages shipping and transportation to hospitals locally or to the airport for export. It also handles the issuance of official permits and approvals to ensure shipments comply with relevant regulatory instructions and requirements.
Training
The Radiopharmaceutical Isotope Production Directorate also offers specialized training programs in isotope production, aimed at transferring technical knowledge and qualifying personnel in this field. In 2025, the Directorate hosted four trainees from the Saudi Radiopharmaceutical Isotope Plant Company, who completed 11 weeks of intensive, hands-on training on Iridium-192 production processes. The program prepared them to operate their own production lines and manufacture sealed radioactive sources at their facilities.
To view the isotope production certificate, click here (File size: 1509.19 KB, File type: PDF)