A Critical Overview of Acceptance Testing Using Various Measured Indices

It is a requirement of the new European directive on health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionising radiation in relation to medical exposure (97/43/EURATOM), that acceptance testing is carried out on all radiological equipment before its first use for clinical purposes. This directive must be implemented into member state law. In accordance with this requirement, thirteen digital fluorography systems were acceptance tested by the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, St. James's Hospital, Dublin. The equipment tested was in six Irish hospitals and included nine systems intended for interventional use, two of which were dedicated cardiac catheterisation laboratories and two of which were dedicated vascular laboratories. Testing was performed in line with current published international guidelines and standards and involved the measurement and analysis of various indices including X ray tube and generator performance, operating dose levels, image quality and electrical, mechanical and radiation safety aspects. The results are presented and compared with international standards and recommendations. Problems were identified with all systems tested with approximately 70% of all systems demonstrating significant problems. This study emphasises the importance of acceptance testing radiological equipment. (author)