The present invention is directed to a method for preparing an anhydrous 18F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent by a nucleophilic reaction of a hydrated 18F-radiolabeled fluoride ion source with an unsaturated carrier compound; treating the 18F-radiolabeled carrier compound to produce a non-aqueous mixture of the 18F-radiolabeled carrier compound in a solvent; and reacting the 18F-radiolabeled carrier compound with a nucleophilic composition in a nucleophilic reaction to produce an anhydrous 18F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent. The present invention is also directed to an anhydrous 18F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent comprising the formula [QnM]x+(18F−)x. Additionally, the present invention is directed to an 18F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical or an 18F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer prepared by reacting the anhydrous 18F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent with a drug intermediate. The present invention is further directed to methods for treating a disease or imaging a subject using an 18F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical or an 18F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer.