Evaluation of the New DIN Standard for Quality Assurance of Diagnostic Displays – Technical Review DIN 6868-157

Abstract

Acceptance and regular constancy tests are necessary to ensure the quality of diagnostic displays. In November 2014, a new standard (DIN 6868-157) was published which defines the test procedure and limiting values. There are several substantial changes compared with the previous standard DIN V 6868-57, i. e. considering the complete image display system including workstation and application software instead of only the displays. Since its publication, the new standard has raised many questions. This technical review aims to show the strengths and weaknesses of the new standard. Positive aspects are the introduction of a limiting value for the illuminance and the extension of the interval for constancy tests from 3 to 6 six months. The daily constancy test on the other hand, raises several problems and should be replaced by a randomized test. Additionally, the medical relevance is critically questioned and an overview of software for the quality assurance will be given.

Key points 

• Acceptance and constancy tests for diagnostic displays are defined in DIN 6868-157.

• The new standards has positive and negative aspects.

• Randomized tests should be introduced.

Citation Format

• Entz K, Sommer A, Lenzen H. DIN 6868-157: Image Quality Assurance in Diagnostic X-ray Departments – X-ray Ordinance Acceptance and Constancy Test of Image Display Systems in their Environment – Technical Review –. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2018; 190: 51 – 60

Key words

diagnostic displays - DIN 6868-157 - quality assurance - constancy tests - randomized tests

• References

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