Quality control of the automatic processor.

An often ignored component of a radiology quality control program is daily sensitometric testing of automatic film processors. Sensitometric strip tests can reveal fluctuating chemical activity levels of developing solutions that can have a detrimental effect on developing films. By performing a daily sensitometric strip test before patient films are developed, time, cost, and patient radiation exposure are minimized, which reduces the number of retakes as a result of processing problems. Sensitometric strip tests also assist in quality control by making troubleshooting more specific.