A Norwegian nationwide quality control survey of nuclear medicine instruments

A nationwide control survey of activity meters and gamma cameras was performed in Norwegian hospitals in 1983. All activity meters were accurate at high and medium activities, but 19% were inaccurate at low activities (2 MBq). Only 48% of the gamma cameras had adequate homogeneity and geometric resolution, and only 37% of the laboratories scored adequately in a simulated liver scintigraphic study on an abdominal phantom. The poor results can partly be explained by old age and outdated constructions (1/3 of cameras), and partly by untuned and improperly used cameras of adequate construction (1/3 of cameras). As a consequence of the investigation, several gamma cameras have been renewed or updated, and two national seminars on quality control have been arranged. It is beleaved that the quality of work has now improved