Investigating the efficacy of current quality assurance performance tests in diagnostic ultrasound.

The efficacy of four current quality assurance performance tests in diagnostic ultrasound was investigated. This was done by comparing the ability of the performance tests to detect fluctuations in gray scale, depth of penetration, axial resolution and lateral resolution on a real-time scanner with the ability of sonologists and sonographers to detect the same fluctuations. The performance tests for gray scale, depth of penetration, and axial resolution were found to be efficacious. The lateral resolution test was judged nonefficacious . This suggested a need to revise the protocol for the lateral resolution test with regard to real-time scanners.