Quality Assurance & Quality Control

Usually abbreviated as QA & QC, is a combination of approach used to measure the quality of services, and to ensure that the services meet with clients or customers expectation.

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance refers to a systematic process and efforts taken that will determine if the services meet the specified requirement. When talking about Quality Assurance in X-Ray Machines, it refers to the planned and systematic actions that will produce consistently high-quality images with minimum exposures of the patients and workers.

The primary goal of a radiology quality assurance program is to ensure the consistent provision of prompt and accurate diagnosis of patients. This goal will be adequately met by a QA program having the following three secondary objectives: 

•  To maintain the quality of diagnostic images;

•  To minimize the radiation exposure to patient and staff; and

•  To be cost effective.

Quality Control

Quality Control is a constituent of Quality Assurance Program that has to be carried out at specified interval as required or recommended by appropriate authority. Quality Control refers to the specific test required to ensure effective and safe equipment performance. Quality Control tests inspects and examines equipment and machine performance under routine clinical conditions, following established protocols for facilities, equipment and procedures. These sets of tests will ensure high imaging quality produced, reduce unnecessary exposure to patients and workers and reduce amount of costs and downtime spent due to machine breakdown. 

When Do Control Test on X-ray machines?

Acceptance / Commissioning

Acceptance/Commissioning: Specifications at purchase are checked, equipment accepted for clinical use and proven reliable over a defined period of time

Routinely

For each equipment/room, relative to baseline, record kept (every year)

Post- Repair

Before accepting a repair, QC test have to be performed to confirm safe operation

Decommissioning

After useful lifespan written report for scrapping to authorities