Device and method for carrying out automated radiochemical purity analysis of pet tracers

A device for carrying out automated radiochemical purity analysis of radiolabelled solution samples on the basis of a chromatogram obtained by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), comprising:

• a TLC strip holder assembly, called hereafter holder assembly, comprising:
• a disposable TLC strip comprising an upper cover and a lower TLC band, the TLC band being sealed in a sealing area at a first end to the upper cover, an other end of the TLC band being a tapered tip free to be parted from the corresponding end of the upper cover, the upper cover being provided with a first orifice or driving orifice located at an other end of the upper cover, a second orifice or eluent orifice located above the tapered tip of the TLC band, and a third orifice or spotting orifice located above the TLC band, at a distance from the second orifice;
• a reusable TLC strip holder, called hereafter holder, comprising an eluent reservoir located beneath an upper surface, the holder having an opening to communicate with the eluent reservoir and matching the second orifice of the upper cover when the TLC strip is fully inserted in the holder, and having a sharp inclined guiding entry to channel the tapered tip of the TLC band downwards into the eluent reservoir, the tapered tip being parted from the upper cover upon insertion thereof into the eluent reservoir, while the remainder of the TLC strip remains guided by retaining notches;
• a stationary radioactivity detector located in line with the holder and provided with shielding parts;
• and
• an automatic equipment comprising a pipettor configured to accommodate disposable pipette tips, to withdraw or deliver a fluid into and out of each pipette tip, and configured to position pipette tips respectively in the spotting orifice, in the eluent orifice, and in the driving orifice to, respectively, dispense a spot of radiolabelled solution sample on the TLC band, provide the eluent reservoir with an eluent, also called mobile phase, and displace the TLC strip along the guiding grooves and outside of the holder towards the radioactivity detector.