The Mammography Quality Assurance Program provides diagnostic imaging services with an established quality framework to support the provision of consistent, high quality mammography services. The Program has been declared by the Commonwealth Qualified Privilege Scheme and has been in operation for nearly 15 years.

The Program operates on a three year cycle:

Year 1 – Practice undergoes Accreditation (or Reaccreditation)

Assessment of clinical and physics materials by expert mammography radiologists and mammography accredited medical physicists.

Year 2 - 1st Annual Review

Assessment of quality control data by mammography accredited physicists.

2nd Annual Review

Assessment of quality control data by mammography accredited physicists.

Quality Assurance Testing requirements are documented in the Mammography Quality Control Manual which is available for purchase from the College (see resources list below). Quality Assurance testing requirements specific to CR or DR mammography units will be available early in 2008 (see CR/DR Mammography Accreditation below).

CR/DR Mammography Accreditation

The MQAP has commenced registration of CR/DR Mammography sites in addition to screen film sites. An application form is available at under the Resources section on this page (choose MQAP Application Form).

Please note that the MQAP has ruled that the introduction of a CR system to an existing MQAP service is equivalent to introducing a replacement unit.

The MQAP submission requirements for CR/DR sites will be as follows:

1. Submission of hard copy clinical images (Dense Breasts and Fatty Breasts)#
2. Phantom Film WITHOUT TLD*#
3. Equipment Assessor’s Report*
4. Test Image Data Sheet
*Please note that recent changes to the MQAP physics assessment program now require the Equipment Assessor to measure Dosimetry and carry out the phantom image test. This phantom film will still be required to be submitted as a component of your test pack for assessment with the MQAP.
#Filmless sites should contact the Manager, Quality and Accreditation to discuss arrangements for their assessment.

The College is currently preparing an MQAP-specific CR/DR Quality Assurance Testing appendix for the MQAP’s Mammography Quality Assurance Manual and participating sites will be advised as soon as it is available (this is expected to be in the New Year).

In the meantime, CR/DR mammography sites are required to follow their CR system manufacturer’s Quality Control and Quality Assurance recommendations and are referred to the corresponding relevant testing requirements contained in the appendices of the ACPSEM’s paper Interim recommendations for a digital mammography quality assurance program (McLean et al, 2007) for advice on quality assurance testing for their systems (see Resource section below).

In order to give participating sites and equipment assessors a reasonable period of time to familiarise themselves with and implement the quality assurance requirements for CR/DR Mammography, once registered, sites will have a period of approximately six months before an initial submission is due.

Fees (inclusive of GST):

Mammography Quality Control Manual A$55.00

MQAP Application Fee A$330.00

To make your application, please obtain an application form below and forward it to:

Mail:	Mammography Quality Assurance Program
	RANZCR
	Level 9, 51 Druitt Street
	SYDNEY NSW 2000
Fax:	02 9268 9799
Email:	mqap@ranzcr.edu.au

MQAP Resources

• RANZCR Mammography Quality Control Manual (2002) order form
• Interim Guidelines for Quality Control Testing for Digital (CR & DR ) Mammography UPDATED
• ACPSEM Position Paper: Interim recommendations for a digital mammography quality assurance program
• MQAP Application Form
• MQAP Annual Review requirements
• ACPSEM Certified Assessors UPDATED

For further details, please contact the College office on 02 9268 9777 or email accred@ranzcr.edu.au

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