MARSHALL ISOTOPES Ltd. is producing 18O water enriched to above 97% since 1999, qualified specifically for all the cyclotrons targets available in the market aimed for the production of [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). This 18-FDG labeled sugar molecule is used as diagnostic agent in a device called PET (positron emission tomography) scan to detect cancerous tumors and determine the progression of the disease.

The PET is a modern method of medical clinical diagnosis and biochemical research rapidly developing in recent years. Oxygen-18 in water or gaseous form serves as a source for short-lived positron-emitting isotope fluorine-18, which allows tracking the processes of cerebral blood flow, glucose metabolism in the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, evaluating the impact of drugs on neuroreceptors and brain imaging. Several hundred of PET centers which provide invaluable diagnostic assistance to tens of millions of people every year function now  worldwide.

To achieve this high isotopic enrichment a fractional distillation process is implemented in special distillation columns arranged in a cascade specifically designed to optimize the production process. The final product is purified to meet the highest standards. The current annual production is 150 kg.