Eastern Health has received a licence from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to begin commissioning of the cyclotron at the Medical Imaging Facility at the Health Sciences Complex.
The testing will happen Saturday and Sunday to eliminate any impact to patient appointments. Visitors in the area may notice signage and security near the building.
Commissioning of the cyclotron involves turning on the machine and testing to ensure that the shielding and safety systems built into the facility operate as designed. Those features include extra thick concrete and lead walls.
Having a cyclotron will enable the production of medical isotopes on site, which are needed to operate the PET/CT scanner.
The expanded imaging facility will improve the diagnosis and treatment of certain illnesses, including cancer.