EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance QA- After X-Ray Tube Replacement

Hi,

What parameters are the most important for QA after the replacement of an X-ray tube in a General X-ray machine which is 4 years old?

Don't let the radiographers wreck it so quickly next time! Ha, ha.

check this presentation
www.moh.gov.ae/moh_site/x_ray/QA%20Checks%20lect.ppt

Better make sure the filament voltage and current are ok before proceeding with the QA. Most of the time, adjustments are made on the filament voltage, before and after tube seasoning.

The basic criteria are whether the unit consistently produces radiographs of sufficient quality for clinical diagnosis. This must also be achieved safely and at the lowest achievable dose. Ideally, regular Quality Assurance (QA) tests should be performed as follows. Note that special test equipment is needed for these tests (such as the Victoreen Nero shown in this .pdf, or the Radcal 9095 in this one):-

1) kV
2) mA
3) HVL (Half Value Layer)
4) mAs linearity (at various kV)
5) Dose
6) Beam alignment (collimator versus x-ray beam)

In case anyone was wondering about the Renard scale mentioned (shown) in the link at 4) above, it is a system of factor steps, similar to Siemens "exposure points".

"VERY MUCH INFORMATIVE LINKS AND PRESENTATONS"

Unfortunately, as so often happens, some of the links given above no longer work.

In their place, anyone interested in X-Ray QA could take a look at the HARP website, which gives a lot of detailed information about testing various x-ray modalities.

Also the revised NDE-Ed X-Rays section (which is excellent).

HARP: from the Healing Arts and Radiation Protection Act (HARPA) of Canada.