Our Services

Mammography physics support

We provide comprehensive physics support to breast imaging facilities, including:

• Annual physicist survey of mammography equipment, including full filed digital mammography (FFDM) and 3D tomosynthesis, to meet the MQSA standards.

• Annual physics survey of stereotactic breast biopsy (SBB) systems.

• Mammography Equipment Evaluation (MEE) for new equipment.

• Review of technologists' QC program and records.

• Annual QC of Review Workstations (RWS).

  • This is a required test as part of the annual physicist survey, even if the RWS is located off-site.

• QC after mammography equipment repair or adjustment.

  • FDA and ACR categorize repairs into major and minor repairs.

  • Major repairs require physicist on-site testing. Minor repairs require physicist oversight.

  • If you are uncertain whether a repair on your equipment is considered major or minor, please contact a CDPH-approved Mammography Medical Physicist for guidance.

Radiography & fluoroscopy physics testing

We provide physicists' testing for all x-ray imaging modalities.

• Annual inspection of radiography systems, including computed radiography (CR), digital radiography (DR), and portable x-rays.

• Annual inspection of fluoroscopy systems, including C-arm, mini C-arm, O-arm, interventional radiology (IR), angiography systems, cath lab, EP lab, and R/F rooms.

• Oversight of fluoroscopy weekly QC programs in accordance with CCR Title 17, § 30307(b)(2) requirement.

  • If your site needs help setting up such a QC program, we can provide guidance and a suitable phantom.

• QC of fluoroscopic equipment after major repairs.

  • In California, exposure rate measurement is required immediately following alteration or replacement of a major component per CCR Title 17, § 30307(b)(3)-(4).

  • Should you need a physicist testing after an unscheduled major repair, we provide rapid response, so that your equipment may return to clinical use as quickly as possible.

CT physicist survey

We have extensive experience supporting CT scanners of various designs and from all major manufacturers.

• Annual System Performance Evaluation, conducted according to the standards of ACR CT QC Manual (2017).

• Acceptance Test for new CT installation.

• Physics support for CT accreditation programs, including

  • American College of Radiology (ACR)

  • The Joint Commission (TJC)

  • Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC)

  We acquire the necessary phantom images and help guide sites through the phantom image submission process.

• Physicist QC after CT repairs.

  • The ACR requires the involvement of a Qualified Medical Physicist (QMP) following CT repairs.

  • Major repairs (x-ray tube, detector, generator, and kV/mA modulation) require QMP in-person testing within 30 days. Minor repairs require QMP oversight.

• Dental CBCT and mobile CT - we provide annual testing to meet the IAC accreditation standards.

Nuclear Medicine and PET physics evaluation

• Annual performance evaluation of gamma camera, SPECT, and PET systems.

• Acceptance testing of nuclear medicine equipment.

• Accreditation support: ACR, TJC, and IAC.

• Our Nuclear Medicine Physicists are board-certified by ABSNM in Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation.

MRI physics survey and MR safety

We provide comprehensive physics support for MRI facilities:

• Annual performance evaluation of MRI scanners, including RF coil testing.

  • We conduct rigorous RF coil testing. Each year, we help many sites identify coils with failing elements before they start to impact clinical image quality.

• Acceptance testing for new MRI

  • Consultation on MRI siting and ACR safety zone requirements.

• Review of weekly QC record.

• MR Safety Expert (MRSE) support

  • The 2024 ACR Manual on MR Safety expects MRI facilities to establish an MR Safety Committee, including a designated MRSE.

• Consultation on the implant and device safety.

• Our MR Physicists are certified by the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS).

Ultrasound and breast ultrasound

• Though there are no regulatory requirements on ultrasound QC, it is required by the ACR ultrasound and breast ultrasound accreditation program.

  • Annual survey is required.

  • Acceptance test is recommended.

  • Ultrasound accreditation is also a part of the requirements by the ACR Diagnostic Imaging Centers of Excellence (DICOE) program.

• We rigorously test all clinically used transducers for defective elements.

  • Each year, we help clients discover many problematic ultrasound probes before the defects start to impact clinical images.

  • Defects in phased-array transducers are particularly difficult to detect using conventional uniformity checks. We use a special "paperclip" testing method to identify these.

• We also provide QC for Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS).

Dental, veterinary, and bone density equipment

We provide annual testing for:

• Dental x-ray systems.

• Dental cone-beam CT (CBCT)

  • We support IAC accreditation of dental CBCTs.

• Veterinary x-ray systems.

• Veterinary CT and MRI.

• Bone density absorptiometry (DEXA).

Radiation shielding & patient dose

• Radiation shielding design prior to construction.

  • Required by the Joint Commission (TJC) for CT, nuclear medicine, and PET rooms upon new installation, replacement, or modification (TJC standard EC.02.06.05)

  • We help facilities pass the radiation shielding plan check required by the Los Angeles County Public Health.

• Radiation Protection Survey (RPS) for shielding verification.

  • Required by TJC after installation of CT, nuclear medicine, or PET equipment (TJC standard EC.02.06.05).

• Patient dose estimation and consultation.

  • Fluoroscopy peak skin dose (PSD) calculation.

  • CT dose estimation for wrong-patient / wrong-body-part events.

  • Fetal dose estimation.

  • Patient consultation.