ACR

Annual Performance Tests - Gamma Cameras

• Intrinsic and system (each collimator) uniformity

• Intrinsic or system spatial resolution

• Energy resolution

• System sensitivity (CPM/Bq)

• Multiple window spatial registration

• Count rate parameters

• Overall SPECT performance

• Formatter or video display

Annual Performance Tests – Non-Imaging Equipment

• Dose Calibrators - battery voltage, zero adjustment, background adjustment, constancy test, linearity, accuracy with NIST traceable standard, and geometry

• Thyroid Uptake and Counting Systems - high voltage/gain checks, background count rate, Energy resolution, 123I capsule or long-lived standard calibration check, chi-square test.

Routine Quality Control Tests – Gamma Cameras

• Intrinsic or System Uniformity (daily)

• Intrinsic or System Spatial Resolution (weekly)

• Center-of-Rotation for SPECT Systems (monthly)

• Overall System Performance for SPECT Systems with SPECT phantom (quarterly)

• High-Count Floods For Uniformity Correction for SPECT Systems (frequency as recommended by a medical physicist)

Routine Quality Control Tests – Non-Imaging

• Dose Calibrators

  • Daily to verify that the calibrator is

  • Quarterly linearity test

• Leakage - semiannually non-exempt radionuclide sources must be leak tested

• Thyroid Uptake and Counting Systems - each day of use to verify energy calibration and sensitivity

PET Performance Tests

• Daily – validate energy calibration, blank scans, and normalization

• Monthly

  • SUV validation

  • Image quality with PET phantom

• Yearly

  • Normalization & uniformity

  • Spatial resolution

  • Count rate performance

  • Sensitivity

  • Attenuation correction accuracy

  • SUV Calibration  

• Data still being collected to determine required tests in the future.

ACR Approved ECT Phantoms

Jaszczak SPECT Phantom from Data Spectrum (www.spect.com)  

Submission of Gamma Camera Phantom Images

• Submit images of 2 isotopes for each unit

99mTc, and 201Tl or 67Ga 

only 99mTc, if only licensed for 99mTc

• Planar imaging only module

uniformity & 4-quadrant bar phantom

• SPECT module

Planar image of “butt end of rods” of Jaszczak phantom

Transaxial reconstructions of specified SPECT study (single slice and composite)

• Images submitted on film

SPECT Phantom Images