Quality control tests, according to "Portaria 453/98" of the Brazilian Health Ministry, were applied in seven public hospitals of Rio de Janeiro including 29 X-ray tubes, 30 cassettes and 20 individual protection garments. These tests evaluate mainly the X-ray generator and system geometry. Other tests in the accessories were also performed, such as: cassettes, screens, viewing boxes, darkrooms and clear rooms. In the kVp tests, 55% of the equipments were disapproved in exactitude and 15% in reproducibility. Time exactitude and reproducibility were not approved in 53% and 31% of the equipments, respectively. The percentages of disapprovement were: for the HVL (half-value layer) 30%, for beam alignment 18%, for field coincidence 30%, for exposure linearity 40% and for focal spot 64%. It has also been observed that frequently the lead aprons were not kept in appropriate hangers and this procedure may cause damage to these accessories. The results of the test suggest the need of implementation of quality assurance tests in these services. The cost benefit analysis of the results reinforces the importance of the implementation of the recommendations contained in this paper.
Quality assurance; Quality control; Radiodiagnostic
