Journal of

Background and Aim: Peripheral and intermediate laboratories have an important role in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of tuberculosis. Today, without these laboratories, maintaining health and preventing the spread of tuberculosis is not possible. The aim of this study was Evaluation of manpower, equipment and quality control standards in peripheral and intermediate laboratories assessment checklist within seven selected provinces in year 2011.

Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. In this study eighty tow peripheral and intermediate laboratories from seven selected provinces were studied in year 2011. A standardized checklist was used to assess peripheral and intermediate laboratories.

Results: The result showed that Esfahan with 20 labs and 8870000 population had the highest number of labs and coverage people between other provinces. Khorasan Razavi with an average of 263 per month has the highest number of admission number and Golestan, with an average of 139 positive cases per month, had the highest number of positive cases between other provinces. In 82 labs 117 laboratory technicians were engaged providing services to patients.

Conclusion : The results of this study showed that conditions of most peripheral and intermediate laboratories are optimum and nearly standard. Control and evaluation of peripheral and intermediate laboratories, expert personnel, facilities and equipment are necessary to improve the TB control program in the country.

Background and Aim: One of the main steps of optimization process in diagnostic imaging is quality control of X-ray devices. If the control quality process and the quality of X-ray equipment are not ensured through a systematic procedure, it can increase the risk of unnecessary exposures among the population. Therefore, this study can reduce the risk of unnecessary exposures in the entire population. 
Materials and Methods: In this study, six quality control tests including voltage measurement accuracy test, time accuracy test, output repeatability test, output to time linearity test, output to milliamp linearity test, and radiation quality measurement test were evaluated in all centers of Ilam in accordance with what the international Atomic Energy Agency and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has presented. 
Results: The result showed that diagnostic X-ray devices available in Ilam had a relatively good quality in all quality control tests that were done except the associated with the radiance quality of (HVL). However, almost all these devices need to add additional filters to the X-ray tubes to resolve error in their HVL. 
Conclusion: Adding additional filters to radiology devices in Ilam Province and modifying the thickness of filters seem to be necessary and desirable which will prevent the unnecessary increase in patients' dose. The accurate and regular implementation of quality control tests in imaging wards should change into a culture. On the other hand, the relevant organizations which have the great responsibility to protect people against radiation are recommended to monitor and supervise radiology centers more accurately and responsibly to repair diagnostic radiation devices.

Background and Aim: To improve the quality of laboratory services, World Health Organization (WHO) introduced ISO15189 standard. So, this study aimed to investigate implementation of the standard at Mycobacteriology Research Center (MRC) and determination of its adaptation.
Materials and Methods: At the first step, 12 organizational blocks of the laboratory was assessed by completion of the standard questionnaire. By implementation of the software and audit surveillance the second step was completed. Consequently, the given results were analyzed using SPSS Version 16. 
Results: By implementation of Quality Management System (QMS) at the three known focal points (pre analytical¸ analytical and post analytical), MRC was scored 80–100% points during 2013-2014; whereas previous QMS of the national reference TB laboratory (NRL) ranged from 48% to 79%
Conclusion: This study was the first of our knowledge in stepwise implementation of ISO15189 standard in Iran. Internal evaluation of the standard, our NRL ranked as a 5 star laboratory. We seeked international evaluation to accreditation of the national reference TB laboratory.