Substitute positron emission tomography (PET) item for use during thallium-201 supply shortage

A new temporary item as a direct substitute for item 61325

Page last updated: 21 September 2022

From 1 April 2022, and available to 30 June 2023, item 61644 has been listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) as a temporary nuclear medicine imaging diagnostic service.

The temporary item uses positron emission tomography (PET) to assist with cardiac viability testing and is a direct substitute for MBS item 61325 which cannot be used due to a supply shortage of the radiopharmaceutical thallium-201.

PDF version – Substitute PET item for use during thallium-201 supply shortage (PDF 166 KB)
Word version – Substitute PET item for use during thallium-201 supply shortage (Word 125 KB)


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