What is the half-life of Gallium-68 (68-Ge)?

Gallium-68 is a radioisotope commonly used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging due to its favorable half-life and emission characteristics. The half-life of Gallium-68 is approximately 68 minutes, which makes it an effective tracer for medical imaging.

However, it's important to clarify that the question actually pertains to Gallium-68's parent isotope, Germanium-68. The half-life of Germanium-68 is about 271 days, which allows it to be used as a long-term source to generate Gallium-68. The longer half-life of the parent isotope is significant in contexts where a more stable supply of the radioisotope is needed for continual production of the short-lived Gallium-68.

Understanding this distinction is critical for anyone involved in PET imaging, as it guides the use of isotopes in clinical settings, ensuring the availability and practical application of Gallium-68 for diagnostic imaging.