Interlaboratory comparison and accreditation in quality control testing of diagnostic X-ray equipment.
The University of Tartu provides a quality control service to the majority of diagnostic X-ray departments in Estonia. Its methodology has been adopted from the IEC and other relevant standards. Recently the Testing Centre of the University of Tartu was accredited on this methodology by ISO/IEC 17025. Besides the implementation of the quality management system, participation in interlaboratory comparison (ILC) was one of the prerequisites for the accreditation. Tests for estimating reproducibility of tube voltage and dose rate, accuracy of the voltage and accuracy of exposure time were carried out on a diagnostic X-ray unit in the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Helsinki. The measurement performance was judged by calculating deviation E(n) normalised with respect to the stated uncertainties. E(n) values for all tests were less than unity and by the common ILC criteria the testing performance could be considered as acceptable.
Kepler
Kalle
K
Testing Centre, University of Tartu, Tähe 4, 51010 Tartu, Estonia. kalle.kepler@ut.ee
Vladimirov
Anatoli
A
Servomaa
Antti
A
D000068:Accreditation; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011786:Quality Control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000379:methods*; D014965:X-Rays