BY: BIANCA LORRIANE D. NOVENO

CHEN-CHEN J. LOPEZ

INTRODUCTIONO

Poor film processing affects:

image quality

Poor film processing affects:

amount of radiation

a patient receives.

The introduction of automatic film

processors eliminated problems

historically associated with manual

processing such as development of

film by sight, where the development

time was dependent on the human

observer and was very subjective.

Automatic processors improved

the:

consistency of film development by

providing constant film development

time.

maintaining a

constant developer

temperature.

Automatic processors improved

the:

Good preventive

maintenance is

essential to assure a

long and trouble free

life for your processor.

Keeping on-going

records of

maintenance will

help assure that the

work is performed

when scheduled.

American Association of Physicists

in Medicine (AAPM)

Does not feel there is a

need to address, once

again, the general

area of quality control.

American Association of Physicists

in Medicine (AAPM)

The members of TG22 agreed that:

there continues to be a critical need for more specific guidance on how to validate the proper operation of automatic film processors.

American Association of Physicists

in Medicine (AAPM)

The members of TG22

represent academia,

industry, government,

and practicing medical

physicists who deal

routinely with both

large and small

facilities.

Processor optimization is also

complex due to the availability of:

multiple combinations

of film types,

automatic film

processors,

Processor optimization is also

complex due to the availability of:

chemical solutions

Processor optimization is also

complex due to the availability of:

recommended

developer temperatures.

Processor optimization is also

complex due to the availability of:

Chemical Solutions

The chemical solutions

used in the automatic film

processor should be those

specifically recommended

by the film manufacturer.

Chemical Solutions

The starter, developer, and fixer

solutions should be stored properly,

i.e.,

according to the manufacturer’s

recommendations,

and used before their expiration

date.

Chemical Solutions

In order to assure that

these solutions have been

mixed properly, it is

preferable to mix these

solutions on-site rather than

using pre-mixed solutions.

Chemical Solutions

Pre-mixed solutions can be used, but

there must be some assurance that

these have been mixed properly.

Relevant metrics, such as film development

time (film immersion time) and developer

temperature, must be:

routinely measured and recorded

periodically validated for accuracy

— since the performance of the film in these chemical

solutions will depend on the development time and

temperature.

FREQUENCY OF TEST:

Daily

INSTRUMENTS USED:

Sensitometric Strip

are made by processing under controlled

conditions of time, temperature, agitation, and

chemical activity

INSTRUMENTS USED:

Sensitometric Strip

Black-and-white control

strips are normally

made in the lab, while

color control strips are

obtained from the

manufacturer of the

material being

processed

Sensitometry is the

scientific study of light-

sensitive materials,

especially photographi

c film.

The study has its origins in

the work by Ferdinand

Hurter and Vero Charles

Driffield (circa 1876) with

early black-and-white

emulsions.

They determined how

the density of silver

produced varied with

the amount of light

received, and the

method and time

of development.

INSTRUMENTS USED:

Graph Paper/graphing

paper/millimeter paper

writing paper that is

printed with fine lines

making up a regular

grid.

INSTRUMENTS USED:

Graph Paper/graphing

paper/millimeter paper

lines are often used as

guides for plotting

mathematical

functions or experimental

data and

drawing diagrams.

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