Quality assurance in CT with the Belgian protocol and the new European acceptability criteria

In a working group of the Belgian Hospital Physicists Association (BHPA), a new protocol has been developed for comprehensive testing of computed tomography scanners. The tests were selected to verify if the scanner is technically adequate, if preprogrammed patient protocols are up-to-date, and if exposure values displayed at the console are sufficiently correct. In addition, they will ensure that the participating medical physics expert (MPE) gets a full understanding of the system to enable him/her to guide optimization processes and allow automated patient dosimetry. Several new test procedures had to be developed. The tests go beyond the criteria identified in the EC guidance document radiation protection (RP) 91 and its successor RP 162. The results of the tests of the BHPA protocol are discussed in the light of the acceptability criteria in RP 91 and RP 162. It is concluded that the ensemble of tests in the BHPA protocol and in RP 162 provide very useful information on the scanner and, more importantly, how the scanner is being used on patients. It is expected that major optimization studies will be triggered by annual testing based on the new documents.