QA Testing

With our Phantom we can test any brand of probe attached to it’s ultrasound system – it’s a quick process and will give you fast and accurate feedback on the condition of your probes.

Please give us a call to discuss this in more detail or we can come to your site for a non obligatory pre-assessment to talk you through it and work out how to get the most from your day.

Ultrasound probes are often the weak link in an ultrasound system. As well as natural degradation through usage, probes are highly sensitive and easily damaged. Knocks, drops and general heavy-handedness can impact sensitive crystals and connectors but damage can be even more subtle. The type of gel used or how it is cleaned can also negatively impact the performance. (Tip: use specialist wipes not paper towels)

Reports show that around 35% of all tested ultrasound probes show defects when tested. The extent of the defect will determine if the probe should be taken out of operation for immediate repair, scheduled for later repair or left to be re-monitored at a later date.

The test we carry out reveals any early changes in your probes that may be cost-effectively repaired before the probe fails or requires repairs of a greater expense.

The accepted guidance is that all probes should be tested at least every 12 months – however, as hospitals tend to have heavy usage they often choose to test every 6 months with us.

There are a few obvious cases where a connection has come loose, there may be physical damage or some severe crystal drop-out. Many probes with defects can’t be seen on screen or through visible inspections to the naked eye. A thorough test using specialist equipment is the only way to identify any problems early. If you don’t carry out regular probe testing, you could be using a defective probe and putting patient care first means ensuring that you have the very best equipment in the best conditions achievable.