QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGINGMilitary Corps Hospitals in Khartoum State

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Quality Assurance procedures in the Military Corps in Khartoum state, through the comprehensive Quality Control QC procedures of the x-ray machines and darkrooms in the x-ray departments, and to provide a Quality Assurance Manual to support the federal ministry of Health running QA program. This study is the first time that the departments of the Military Corps apply Qc tests on their x-ray machines. The total number of x-ray machines in Khartoum state is 10 machines with 4 darkrooms. Only three of the x-ray machines are tested and the results showed that there are unacceptable parameters of the major exposure factors which determine the image quality. The percentage of accuracy defects are 67% for kVp Accuracy, 67% for Time Accuracy, 33% for Relative mA Linearity, 33% for Relative mAs Linearity, 67% for kVp Reproducibility, 67% for Collimator test. Also the tested darkrooms showed that the percentage of unacceptable parameters as: 15% for tested intensifying screens, 18% for tested Cassettes, 100% for light leakage, 67% for Safelight. Reject film Analysis showed that 5.3% & 10% is the reject percentage during four months for the main and casualty centers respectively. Personal monitoring showed that the dose is within the dose limits the maximum and minimum Dose equivalent in 2001 is 4.231Sv, 0.154Sv and in 2002 is 2.736Sv, 0.167Sv consequently, and the monitoring is stopped since July 2002. The study gives a review of all definitions and QC procedures needed for the QA manual and can be referenced as a QA Manual for the Military Corps or any other hospital. Through this study it has been obviously clear that there is no QAP or any other parts of QA, such as QCP.