WHAT IS RADIOLABELING?

AME Studies (Absorption, Metabolism and Excretion)

Radiolabeled studies are also known as AME studies (absorption, metabolism and excretion) because of what they measure.

In an AME study, the study drug is specially prepared to contain radiolabeled carbon or tritium (found in soil, rocks and air). Adding a low dose of radiation to the study drug does not change how the drug works but helps us to see how the drug appears in body fluids such as blood, urine and stool after it is given to you.

What do I need to know about radiolabeled studies?

  • Exposure to radioactivity can be measured in units called millerem (mrem). The amount of environmental radiation exposure depends on a number of factors and will vary from place to place. For example, here in Madison, Wisconsin, where these AME studies take place, we know the background radiation level is 620 mrem/year
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets limits as to the amount of radioactivity that a research subject can be exposed to on a per study basis and over a given year
  • Maximum whole-body radiation exposure = 5,000 mrem/year; 3,000 mrem/study. We have a mandatory three-month washout period between AME studies at our clinic; however, each study may dictate their preferred washout period
  • Our team of doctors and scientists calculates how much radioactivity you would be exposed to during a study to ensure that you are exposed to limits much lower than what is set forth in the FDA regulations

Common radioactivity myths

Section Menu

Bananas and AME studies: Putting radioactivity exposure into perspective

Radiation is everywhere in the environment, including the foods we eat. For example, eating one banana exposes you to 0.01 mrem of radioactivity due to the radioactive potassium that is naturally occurring in the fruit. Normal daily activities can expose you to radioactivity, so let’s take a look at different exposures in terms of bananas.

When you fly in an airplane, you are exposed to radioactivity in the atmosphere. The higher the altitude, the less shielding you will get from the atmosphere so the higher the exposure. Flying at an altitude of 33,000 ft for one hour, your radiation exposure is estimated to be approximately 0.1 mrem (banana x 10).

A routine dental x-ray will expose you to approximately 0.5 mrem of radioactivity (banana x 50).

The annual radiation exposure by living in Madison, Wisconsin, is 620 mrem/year (banana x 62,000). In comparison, the average exposure per study is 360 (banana x 36,000).

To put these exposures into perspective, acute radiation sickness would take a dose of approximately 100,000 mrem of radioactivity (banana x 10,000,000).

The most radioactive place on earth? A smoker’s lungs. The annual exposure of radioactivity to a smoker’s lungs is approximately 16,000 mrem/year—the equivalent of eating 1.6 million bananas.

How do I start enrollment for an AME study? Fill out a brief form and we'll follow up to see if you qualify for an AME study. Or you can call us directly at 866-429-3700.

Browse Clinical Studies

Call us at 1-866-429-3700

Contact us

Reach us online
Labcorp logo

Labcorp Clinical Trials is a business segment of Labcorp Inc., a leading global life sciences company, which provides contract research services to the drug, medical device and diagnostics, crop protection and chemical industries. Labcorp is a registered trademark and the marketing name for Labcorp Inc. and its subsidiaries around the world.

Navigation
Scroll to top