The TÜV association has dealt intensively with X-ray equipment. A total of 2,424 deficiencies are said to have occurred during tests, some of which could increase the risk of incorrect diagnoses. Overall, however, there is a high level of safety for patients and medical staff.
TÜV discovered 2,424 defects in X-ray machines
For the year 2021, the TÜV association has published an X-ray report for the first time. According to the report, the aim of the report is to reveal the condition of independently tested X-ray devices in Germany. In a total of 15,841 audits conducted by independent experts, 2,424 defects were discovered. Most of them, according to the TÜV, are classified as not serious.
In the human and dental medical X-ray devices almost 80 percent of the defects classified as “not relevant to safety”.. However, almost all of the rest falls into the category of “serious defects”, which means that a new check is required before further operation. But that’s not a reason for general concern: “Overall, the level of technical safety in the field of X-ray diagnostics is high,” says Dr. Alexander Schröer, radiation protection expert of the TÜV association.
According to the TÜV, many of the defects found could be avoided if the devices were serviced regularly and the radiation protection regulations were observed. the risk of misdiagnosis would increase unnecessarily due to artifacts on X-ray images. These artefacts arise over many years of use on the digital imaging plates or analogue film plates of the devices. Deficiencies could also lead to increased stress for patients, it is said.
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TÜV: CT devices with fewer defects
devices for the Computed tomography (CT) and mammography has also been examined by the TÜV. In a total of 300 tests in 2021, only 18 defects were found, two of which are considered “serious” due to insufficient radiation protection (source: TÜV Association).