Echocardiogram Testing and Quality Assurance 5

Question 1

Which organization provides widely recognized guidelines for ultrasound equipment quality assurance in the United States?

Accepted Answer

AIUM (American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine)

Answer

FDA Center for Drug Evaluation

Answer

The Joint Commission on Pharmacy

Answer

American College of Radiology only

Question 2

A sonographer notices that spectral Doppler waveforms have a 'noisy' baseline even when the sample volume is placed in a non-moving region. This artifact is most consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Electronic noise or wall filter set too low

Answer

Aliasing from high-velocity flow

Answer

Incorrect Doppler angle correction

Answer

Insufficient PRF for the depth

Question 3

When documenting QA results, which information is LEAST critical to include in the QA log?

Accepted Answer

Patient name from the most recent exam

Answer

Date and time of test

Answer

Technician performing the test

Answer

Test results and pass/fail status

Question 4

What effect does operating an echocardiography system at a higher mechanical index (MI) have on image quality QA testing?

Accepted Answer

Increases acoustic output and can cause nonlinear bubble behavior in phantoms with microbubbles

Answer

Reduces axial resolution

Answer

Decreases frame rate

Answer

Improves temporal resolution

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a 'process quality indicator' in an echocardiography lab QA program?

Accepted Answer

The number of technically adequate studies completed per month

Answer

The manufacturer's stated transducer frequency

Answer

The patient's ejection fraction value

Answer

The color of the transducer cable

Question 6

A QA protocol calls for testing 'axial resolution' using a wire phantom. Which of the following correctly describes what is being measured?

Accepted Answer

The minimum distance along the beam axis between two targets that can be displayed as separate

Answer

The minimum distance between two targets perpendicular to the beam that can be resolved

Answer

The beam width at the focal zone

Answer

The maximum detectable velocity along the beam axis

Question 7

An echocardiography lab implements a peer review program where sonographers review each other's image quality. This is an example of which QA strategy?

Accepted Answer

Peer quality review for process improvement

Answer

Equipment preventive maintenance

Answer

Outcome audit

Answer

Regulatory compliance testing