Evaluation of Diagnostic Radiology Department in Term of Quality Control (QC) of X-Ray Units at Khartoum State Hospitals

Abstract

The mean objective in diagnostic radiology is to in provide high qualitydiagnostic image while keeping the patients and workers dose in the lower limit according toALARA principle, (Maria Lucia Nana et al 2009). To optimize the practice of diagnostic radiology, adequatequality assurance (QA) program should be in place.18 hospitals with 18 x-ray units distributed in Khartoum state were evaluated inthis study.Each x-ray unit was tested for Kvp andtimeReproducibility , accuracy of Kvp and time , mAs linearity, and coincidence between light beam and radiation beam. The dark rooms were alsoevaluated to assess the fog level.CONNY II QC Dosimeter made by PTW company were use to for this study. The analysis of the results showed that two out of eighteenunit had a problem in mAs linearity, also two out of eighteen unit had a problem in kVp accuracy and one had a problem inkVp reproducibility. three devices have defects concerning adaptation with optical fieldand radiation field. More than 50% of the darkrooms had a problem in fog level; time accuracy and time reproducibility were in the acceptable limit.The quality control of the radiologicaldevices should be performed periodically and regularly and the defects of the devices should be removed in order to beassured of the appropriate function of the devices. many of these machines need service because of lack ofimplementing the quality control program regularly, which indicates that the quality control programs should be extendedregularly.because the dark rooms is very important place specially in conventional radiology departmentlike in Sudan so it need to periodic review to monitor the fog.