COMPARISON OF QUALITY CONTROL PARAMETERS OF DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY MACHINES IN GOVERNMENT, MISSION AND PRIVATE OWNED FACILITIES IN JOS, NIGERIA

Due to the availability and frequent use of x-ray machine in the diagnoses of diseases and treatment of diseases in most of our hospitals and radio-diagnostic centers in Nigeria, the need to assess the quality control parameters and level of compliance of the x-ray machines cannot be over emphasized. The purpose of this research is to compare the result of four Quality Control test parameters of government (G1and G2), mission (M1 and M2) and private owned (P1and P2) x-ray machines of the radio-diagnostic facilities to ascertain the level of compliance among them with the set reference tolerance limits. Four Quality Control test parameters; kVp accuracy, congruence between optical and x-ray field, beam alignment and tube filtration was assessed from the measurement carried out using Gammex Radiologic kit with Gammex 330 digital kV meter, Gammex 115A half value layer set, collimator test tool model 161B and the beam alignment test tool model 162A.The result of kVp accuracy show that G1,G2,M2 and P1 all had values ranging from 2.30% - 3.14% within the set tolerance limit of ± 5% while M1 and P2 had values above the limit. In congruence between optical and x-ray field with tolerance limit of ±2%, only P2 was above limit, while in perpendicularity G2 and P2 were above the set limit of 1.5o . Tube filtration all the studied x-ray machines failed the test indicate absorption of excess low energy dose for patient. This research therefore reveals that the government and mission x-ray machines have better quality control programme that the private owned.