• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2013

The aim of this work is to verify the self-quality assurances in medical institutions in Korea through the external audits by the group of experts and have a mutual discussion of the systematic problems. In order to validate the external audits 30 of 80 medical institutions across the nation were picked out considering the regional distribution and the final 25 institutions applied voluntarily to take part in this work. The basic rules were setup that any information of the participants be kept secrete and the measurements be performed with the dosimetry system already verified through intercomparision. The outputs for 2 or more photon beams, the accuracy of gantry rotation and collimator rotation and the poistional accuracy of MLC movement were measured. The findings for the output measurement showed the differences of -0.8%~4.5%, -0.79%~3.01%, and -0.7%~0.07% with respect to that of the verified dosimetry system for the 6MV, 10MV, and 15MV, respectively. For the reference absorbed dose 8 (16%) of 50 photon beams in 25 medical institutions differed 2.0% or greater from the reference value. The coincidences of Field size with x-ray beam and radiation isocenters of Gantry roration and collimator rotation gave the results of within ${\pm}2$ mm for every institute except 2 institutions. The positional accuracy of MLC movement agreed to within ${\pm}1$ mm for every institute. For the beam qualities of 6 MV photon beams kQ values showed the distribution within 0.4% between maximum and minimum. For the protocols 21 institutions (84%) used absorbed dose to water based protocol while 4 insitutions (16%) used air kerma based one. 22 institutions employed the SSD technique while 3 institutions did the SAD one. External audit plays an important role in discovering the systematic problems of self-performing Quality Assurances and having in depth discussion for mutual complementation. Training experts of international level as well as national support system are required so that both the group of experts of medical physicists and government laboratory could perform together periodical and constant external audits.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2022

Purpose In the meantime, there have been not many samples that require dilution, and it has been difficult for the examiner to set an appropriate dilution multiple for RIA test item and report the results. Accordingly, it was judged that it was necessary to set the maximum dilution multiple for each test and to verify the upper limit of the clinical reportable range. Therefore, in this study, the maximum dilution multiple for each RIA test was set and the upper limit of the clinical reportable range was verified accordingly Materials and Methods Among all RIA tests conducted at Asan Medical Center, the study treated on 30 types of tests which also conduct the dilution test. Data from March to July 2021 were collected and analyzed. The study was conducted on samples subjected to serial dilutions such as X2, X4 or X10, X10², X10³, X10⁴, X10⁵. Results Among a total of 30 test types, 18 test types have more than 5 N values in the tolerance range of 80~120%. As a result of the verification of maximum dilution multiples, the test set to 10⁴ is 𝛼-fetoprotein and thyroglobulin, and the test set to 10³ is CA-125, CEA, and 𝛽-hCG, and the test set to 10² is Free PSA, PSA, CA15-3, SCC, Ferritin, PTH, Cortisol, and Calcitonin. Tests set to 10 include three categories: 𝛽2-Microglobulin, C-peptide, and Testosterone. Conclusion It is expected that it will contribute to improving the quality of nuclear medicine blood tests as the results of dilution experiments can be reported quickly and accurately through the verification of the clinical reportable range.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2006

Korean Cleft Lip and Palate Association (KCLPA) was founded in 1996. The first overseas charity operation was in Karachi, Pakistan, 2002 and our association has visited fourteen times in six countries for the free cleft surgery: Pakistan, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan and Vietnam. The cumulated number of operated patients reaches to 280. Before our association, many Korean oral and maxillofacial surgeons have performed charity operations individually since 1964. It was started from Vietnam but the activity is now carried on in Africa, middle-east Asia, south-east Asia, China, and Korea as an official team. LG electronics, a Korean company helped to propagate our team's activity to middle-east Asia to Africa. This paper is a report concerning about the results of our association's charity activities especially in Kenya, east Africa. We provided free cleft surgery for 30 patients in 2004 and 27 patients in 2005, in Nairobi. As the blood test for HIV of the cleft patients was not allowed before and during surgery, our surgeons and nurses were cautious about every movement during the surgeries. Thus the operation time for each patient was longer than any other time. The attitude of the local hospital and the doctors seemed to be accustomed to this situation. They helped us in case of needle injuries. Safety of medical staff and patients is more important than the number of the patients operated in charity operation. This belief should be approached being parallel and multidisciplinary as an international cooperation, focusing on international funding for medical support and continuous education for local doctors who are willing to devote to their people.