QUALITY CONTROL TESTS

FOR RADIOGRAPHY
Quality control (QC)
 RADIOGRAPHY

 This section describes the requirements for routine QC tests for

computed radiography and digital radiography X ray systems
 The main objective of these tests is to verify the operational
stability of the equipment
 to ensure its safe and effective use
 1. X ray–light beam alignment and centring

 objective
 the objective of this test is to ensure the
coincidence and alignment of the collimated
light field with the X ray field

 Equipment
 (a) Coins or other metal objects.
 (b) A cylinder.
 1. X ray–light beam alignment and centring

 Procedure
 Using coins:
 (i) Place the image receptor on a flat surface and set the X ray tube’s
axis to be perpendicular to the image.
 (ii) Position the image detector at an SID of 100 cm.
 (iii) Collimate the light beam to a small field on the image detector
(e.g. 20 cm × 20 cm). The image receptor area needs to be greater
than the light field.
 (iv) Place metal markers (e.g. coins) at every edge of the light field;
mark with coins the corner of the light field (Fig. 2).
 (v) Make an exposure using exposure parameters 50 kV and 3 mA · s or
the values recommended by the medical physicist
 1. X ray–light beam alignment and centring

 Baselines and tolerances

 (a) X ray–light field alignment: Ensure that the deviation of the X ray field from the light field does not exceed
±2 cm on any side for an SID of 100 cm or ±2% of any other SID.
 (b) Centring: Ensure that the coincidence of the collimator light beam crosshairs with the X ray beam centre
does not exceed ±1 cm at SID = 100 cm

 Frequency
 Repeat the test every three to six months.

 Corrective actions
 If the tolerance is exceeded, then proceed as follows:
 (a) Repeat the test.
 (b) If the problem persists, ask the medical physicist or the service engineer
 2. Distances and Scales

 Description and objective

 The aim of this test is to determine the accuracy of the SID
indicator of the X ray system.

 The equipment
 long ruler or a measuring tape at least 100 cm long
 2. Distances and Scales

 Procedure
 (a) Set an SID of 100 cm by using the SID indicator of the system.
 (b) Measure the actual SID using the ruler or measuring tape,
starting at the focal spot indicator on the side of the X ray tube
and extending to the tabletop or surface of the image receptor
 (c) Record the result.

 Analysis and interpretation

 Compare the measured value with the SID readout indicator of
the X ray system.
 2. Distances and Scales

 Baselines and tolerances

 The difference between the ruler or tape measurement and the SID
readout indicator should not exceed ±1.5 cm.

 Frequency
 The test is repeated every six months.

 Corrective actions
 If the tolerance is exceeded, then proceed as follows:
 (a) Repeat the test.
 (b) If the problem persists, ask the medical physicist or the service engineer
 3. Image Uniformity and Artefacts

 Description and objective

 This test is performed ensure that the image is uniform and artefact free.
 Equipment
 A copper attenuator (1 mm thick or similar) is recommended.
Alternatively, other attenuators may be used, such as 10 cm of
polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
 Frequency
 The test is repeated monthly.

 Baselines and tolerances

 No visible artefacts or grossly inhomogeneous areas should be
observable
 4. Automatic Exposure Control Constancy

 Description and objective

 The purpose of automatic exposure control (AEC) is to
deliver consistent, reproducible exposures across a wide
range of tube potentials and to compensate for different
anatomical thicknesses.

 Equipment
 A copper plate or other attenuator
 4. Automatic Exposure Control Constancy
 Procedure
 (a) Centre the tube on the image receptor area.
 (b) Collimate the beam so that it covers the whole image receptor.
The field size needs to be set in a way it covers the AEC sensor(s).
 (c) Put the attenuator on the X ray tube or place it at the
appropriate distance between the focal spot and the image
receptor so that it covers the whole image receptor area .
 (d) Select the exposure parameters according to the local routine or
use the parameters applied during the commissioning procedure
(e.g. 70 kV). Choose the AEC sensor designated or used earlier for
this test. The tube kilovoltage should be kept the same for all
measurements.
 (e) Make an exposure and record the tube current–exposure time
product (‘mAs value’) and the exposure indicator (exposure index)
displayed on the operator’s console
 4. Automatic Exposure Control Constancy

 Analysis and interpretation

 Compare the mAs value and exposure index with the corresponding baseline values.

 Baselines and tolerances

 The recorded exposure index and mAs values should be within ±25% of the respective baseline values
for digital radiography systems and fwithin ±30% or computed radiography systems.

 Frequency
 The test is repeated every three months.
 5.Automatic Exposure Control Sensitivity

 Description and objective

 AEC is used to compensate for the change of the X ray tube voltage and
the thickness of the patient’s anatomical area exposed. All radiography
systems equipped with AEC use AEC sensors, which are usually ionization
chambers that determine the amount of photons incident on the image
receptor
 Equipment
 For this test a copper plate or other attenuator is used
 5.Automatic Exposure Control Sensitivity

 Procedure

 (a) Centre the tube to the image receptor placed in the bucky.
 (b) Collimate the X ray beam to cover the whole area of the attenuator and ensure that the selected
AEC ionization chamber is inside the X ray beam.
 (c) Slide the copper plate into the X ray tube accessory rail or place the attenuator between the focal
spot and the bucky.
 (d) Select 70 kV and the central ionization chamber . The kilovoltage should be kept the same whenever
this test is carried out, along with other AEC settings, such as film speed or density correction, if they are
selectable. Their values should be set to default or normal level (speed: 400 (D); density correction: 0.0).
 (e) Make an exposure and record the mAs and exposure index values displayed on the X ray system after
the exposure. Then select the sensor or sensors that were not tested, and repeat the previous step
 5.Automatic Exposure Control Sensitivity

 Baselines and tolerances

 The exposure index and mAs values should not differ by more than ±50% from the
corresponding baseline values.

 Frequency
 The test is repeated every month to every three months, depending on the observed
consistency of the system.
 Corrective actions
 If the tolerance is exceeded, then proceed as follows:
 (a) Repeat the test.
 (b) If the problem persists, ask the medical physicist or the service engineer
 6-Radiation output consistency

 Objective
 The radiation output (mGy/(mA · s)) of the radiographic X ray system at a
specific tube voltage should remain constant when a given current–time
product is selected in any combination of current and time. This test
monitors the effect of changes in tube current, time and their product (mAs
value) on the radiation output

 Equipment
 1-A solid state detector
 2-A lead plate is necessary if the image receptor is not removable from the
bucky.
 6-Radiation Output Consistency

 Procedure
 1-Place the instrument on a flat surface with its sensitive area facing
the X ray tube
 2-Set the distance between the focal spot and the instrument at
100 cm
 3-It is recommended to position the solid state detector so that its
active area is oriented perpendicular to the anode–cathode axis of
the Xray tube and to keep the field size as small as possible (e.g. 5
cm × 10 cm).
 4-Use the manual exposure mode and select 80 kV.
 5-Calculate the radiation output (µGy/(mA · s)) for all exposures,
using Eq.
6-Radiation Output Consistency

 Baselines and tolerances

 The radiation output for 2.5 mm Al total filtration and 80 kV exposures
should be in the range of 25 µGy/(mA · s) to 80 µGy/(mA · s).
 Frequency
 The test is repeated annually.
 7-Short term reproducibility of
radiation output and exposure time

 Objective
 This test evaluates the short term reproducibility of the generator. , this test may reveal defects of
the generator when issues are observed in the AEC system .

 Equipment
 1-dosimeter with a solid state detector
 2-A lead plate is necessary if the image receptor is not removable from the bucky.
 7-Short term Reproducibility of Radiation
Output and Exposure Time
 Procedure
 1-Place the instrument on a flat surface with its sensitive area facing the X ray tube
 2-Set the distance between the focal spot and the instrument at 100 cm.
 3-It is recommended to position the solid state detector so that its active area is oriented
perpendicular to the anode–cathode axis of the Xray tube and to keep the field size as small as
possible (e.g. 5 cm × 10 cm)
 4-) Use the manual exposure mode and select 80 kV and a current–time combination that results
in an exposure of about 40 mA · s (e.g. 400 mA and 100 ms).
 5-Make five exposures using the same settings and record the results.
 6-Calculate the radiation output using Eq. (1) for all measurements, and determine their mean
value;
 7-Calculate the coefficient of variation (COV) for all measured exposure times.
 7-Short term Reproducibility of
radiation output and exposure time

 Baselines and tolerances

 The deviation of the measured radiation output should be within ±20% of the
mean value;
 The COV of the exposure time should be less than ±5%.

 Frequency
 The test is repeated annually.
 8-Exposure Time Accuracy

 objective :-
 This test monitors the consistency of the exposure time according to the nominal values
set at the console of the X ray system.

 Equipments:-
 1-An instrument capable of measuring exposure time in the range 5–5000 ms
 2-A lead plate is necessary if the image receptor is not removable from the bucky.
 8-Exposure Time Accuracy

 Procedure:-
 1-Place the instrument on a flat surface with its sensitive area facing the X ray tube.
 2-Set the focal spot’s distance from the instrument at 100 cm.
 3-Use the manual exposure mode and select 80 kV and 200 mA
 4-Make at least five different exposures, selecting the times most frequently used in the clinical
settings, and record the results.
 5-Calculate the deviation between the nominal and measured values of the exposure time.
 Tolerances:-
 1-For exposure times longer than 100 ms, ±10% of the nominal value
 2-For exposure times shorter than 100 ms, ±15% or ±2 ms of the nominal value, whichever is greater.
 Frequency:-The test is repeated annually.
 9-Kerma–area product meter
accuracy
 Objective:-
 The kerma–area product (KAP) is used to describe patient dose. This test is undertaken to
ensure the accuracy of the KAP meter, which gives an indication of the entrance patient
dose.

 Equipment :-
 1-solid state detector
 2-Computed radiography plate
 3-Ruler
 4-Lead plate if the image receptor is not removable
 9-Kerma–area product meter
accuracy
 Procedure:-
 1-Place the reference instrument on the central axis of the X ray beam at least 20 cm
above the couch (tabletop) .
 2-A block of extruded polystyrene foam on a holder/stand can be used to support the
instrument.
 3-Collimate the X ray beam so that it covers an area of approximately 10 cm × 10 cm on
the sensitive area of the reference instrument.
 4-Make manual exposures, irradiating the reference instrument
 Tolerances:-
 accuracy should be better than ±35%
 Frequency:-The test is repeated annually
 10-Leakage Radiation

 Objective:-
 This test is designed to determine the leakage radiation of the collimator
system and the X ray tube assembly.
 Equipment:-
 1-A survey meter with a pressurized ionization chamber
 2-A 4 mm thick lead sheet covering the exit window of the collimator.
 3-A ruler or a measuring tape.
 10-Leakage Radiation

 Procedure:-
 1-Arrange the X ray tube so that it is accessible from any direction at 1 m distance.
 2-The leakage radiation could also be calculated by selecting the highest possible kilovoltage and a
fraction of the maximum mAs value at that setting (e.g. 150 mA · s for a maximum of 600 mA · s at
150 kV)
 3-Collimate the beam to the smallest possible size.
 4-Place the lead sheet on the exit window of the collimator or its assembly to cover it completely.
 5-Record the measured values, the exact sampling direction and the distance from the focal spot.
 tolerances :-
 The maximum air kerma should not be more than 1 mGy in 1 h at 1 m in any direction.
 Frequency:-The test is performed at the time of acceptance and after major changes to the
collimator or the tube assembly.
 11-Scattered Radiation

 Objective:-
 This test is performed to evaluate the occupational
exposure of staff present in the room during clinical
procedures. The measurement of scattered radiation is
more closely related to radiation protection of the staff
and to the evaluation of the shielding of the room.

 Equipment:-
 1-A survey meter
 2-A 25 cm thick water phantom
 3-A measuring tape.
 11-Scattered Radiation

 Procedure:-
 1-Set the arm holding the X ray tube and the image receptor to be vertical
 2-Set the parameters of the system to the most frequently used settings in clinical practice.
 3-Place the phantom on the table
 4-While wearing a lead apron, perform dose rate measurements around the X ray tube
 5-Record the measured values
 Tolerances:-
 A difference of ±50% from the baseline value is acceptable.
 Frequency:-
 This test is repeated annually.
 Test Frequency
1. X ray–light beam alignment and centring Every three to six months.

2. Distances and Scales Every six months

3. Image Uniformity and Artefacts monthly
4. Automatic Exposure Control Constancy every three months
5.Automatic Exposure Control Sensitivity every three months
6.Radiation Output Consistency annually
7-Short term Reproducibility of Radiation Output annually
and Exposure Time
8-Exposure Time Accuracy annually
9-Kerma–area product meter accuracy annually

10-Leakage Radiation The test is performed at the time of

acceptance and after major changes to
the collimator or the tube assembly.
 Reference

 Handbook of Basic Quality Control Tests for Diagnostic

Radiology