Diagnostic X-Ray Machines Quality Control Parameters Analysis In Some Major Hospitals In Benue State-Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to evaluate the quality control parameters and status of diagnostic X-ray machines with respect to ascertaining production of quality image and estimation of inappropriate radiation exposure to patients in all the X-ray units. The quality control assessment of the diagnostic X-ray machines were carried out using Radiographic/Fluoroscopic kit, model Gammex 184D, in the Radiological Departments of some major Hospitals in Benue State. Three X-ray machines in the Radiological departments were monitored and the Hospitals were abbreviated as H-1, H-2 and H-3. Three quality control Test Tools were employed in this research work, and they include; mAs Linearity Test, Collimator and Beam Alignment Test, and kVp Reproducibility Variance Test. The mAs linearity test for H-1 was found to be within the acceptable tolerance limit of 0.1 (10%) as recommended by American Association of Physicist in Medicine (AAPM) while H-2 and H-3 were above the tolerance limit; the Collimator and Beam Alignment Test show that H-1, H-2 and H-3 were within the tolerance as defined by National Center for Devices and Radiological Health (NCDHR) to be 1.50 from the perpendicular. Finally, the kVp Reproducibility Test and coefficient of variance were found to be 0.1% at H-1, 0% at H-2 and 0.3% at H-3 which are within ±5% as recommended by Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD). This quality control parameters were to ensure that exposure to radiation from X-ray machines is justified and optimized in keeping with ALARA principle and to also ensure that high quality image are produced.