Perform planar gamma camera commissioning tests and participate in the commissioning tests of Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/ Computed Tomography (CT) and Positron emission tomography (PET)/ (CT) scanners

• Correct and safe operation of imaging equipment
• Factors that affect dose and image quality in the context of intended use
• The benefits to patient treatment and care of performing commissioning tests
• Individual types and components of instrumentation
• Standards applicable to radionuclide imaging equipment, including National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), national standards and manufacturer’s guidance
• Current guidelines and legislative requirements for imaging equipment testing
• Analysis of performance trends
• Performance criteria, including remedial and suspension levels, for a broad range of imaging equipment
• Likely causes of degradation of image quality and timescale over which common defect types progress
• Awareness of escalation pathway for corrective action (eg first-line action, when to contact manufacturer)
• Principles of quality assurance and equipment quality control, including the key performance parameters for testing
• The range of suitable tests to carry out on equipment to establish safe, consistent and expected operation
• Errors and statistical analyses
• The performance and limitations of test procedures
• Appropriate specifications for different clinical requirements
• Appropriate level of accuracy and precision for a range of tests

Make comprehensive quantitative routine performance measurements on imaging equipment

• Correct and safe operation of imaging equipment
• Factors that affect dose and image quality in the context of intended use
• The benefits to patient treatment and care of performing commissioning tests
• Individual types and components of instrumentation
• Standards applicable to radionuclide imaging equipment, including National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), national standards and manufacturer’s guidance
• Current guidelines and legislative requirements for imaging equipment testing
• Analysis of performance trends
• Performance criteria, including remedial and suspension levels, for a broad range of imaging equipment
• Likely causes of degradation of image quality and timescale over which common defect types progress
• Awareness of escalation pathway for corrective action (eg first-line action, when to contact manufacturer)
• Principles of quality assurance and equipment quality control, including the key performance parameters for testing
• The range of suitable tests to carry out on equipment to establish safe, consistent and expected operation
• Errors and statistical analyses
• The performance and limitations of test procedures
• Appropriate specifications for different clinical requirements
• Appropriate level of accuracy and precision for a range of tests

Critically review quality assurance programmes for radionuclide imaging

• Correct and safe operation of imaging equipment
• Factors that affect dose and image quality in the context of intended use
• The benefits to patient treatment and care of performing commissioning tests
• Individual types and components of instrumentation
• Standards applicable to radionuclide imaging equipment, including National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), national standards and manufacturer’s guidance
• Current guidelines and legislative requirements for imaging equipment testing
• Analysis of performance trends
• Performance criteria, including remedial and suspension levels, for a broad range of imaging equipment
• Likely causes of degradation of image quality and timescale over which common defect types progress
• Awareness of escalation pathway for corrective action (eg first-line action, when to contact manufacturer)
• Principles of quality assurance and equipment quality control, including the key performance parameters for testing
• The range of suitable tests to carry out on equipment to establish safe, consistent and expected operation
• Errors and statistical analyses
• The performance and limitations of test procedures
• Appropriate specifications for different clinical requirements
• Appropriate level of accuracy and precision for a range of tests

Instigate corrective action based on an evaluation of quality control results

• Correct and safe operation of imaging equipment
• Factors that affect dose and image quality in the context of intended use
• The benefits to patient treatment and care of performing commissioning tests
• Individual types and components of instrumentation
• Standards applicable to radionuclide imaging equipment, including National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), national standards and manufacturer’s guidance
• Current guidelines and legislative requirements for imaging equipment testing
• Analysis of performance trends
• Performance criteria, including remedial and suspension levels, for a broad range of imaging equipment
• Likely causes of degradation of image quality and timescale over which common defect types progress
• Awareness of escalation pathway for corrective action (eg first-line action, when to contact manufacturer)
• Principles of quality assurance and equipment quality control, including the key performance parameters for testing
• The range of suitable tests to carry out on equipment to establish safe, consistent and expected operation
• Errors and statistical analyses
• The performance and limitations of test procedures
• Appropriate specifications for different clinical requirements
• Appropriate level of accuracy and precision for a range of tests

Understand the wider clinical situation relevant to patients presenting to the modality

• The wider clinical indications for a broad range of standardradionuclide  imaging procedures
• The patient experience, expectations and needs associated with the modality, including patient information Alternative/complementary modalities

Develop and evaluate protocols for the optimal acquisition, processing and display of clinical images

• Consequences of the selection of acquisition parameters (eg matrix size, collimator, dynamic phasing, etc)
• The techniques and applications inherent in standard image processing and types of errors that may result

Write standard operating procedures for radionuclide imaging

• The range of radiopharmaceuticals, radioactivity administered and radiation dose in relation to clinical studies, including patient preparation and imaging parameters

Use sophisticated image analysis software to extract quantitative information and enhance diagnostic utility

• Full range of methods to accurately extract quantitative data, eg ROI analysis and various background subtraction methods
• Attenuation correction
• Scatter correction

Modify and develop image acquisition and analysis software

• Specific application software or programming language

Explain the cause and effect of a range of artefacts and of equipment performance limitations on the interpretation of clinical images

• Performance characteristics on a range of imaging equipment
• Normal appearances of a range of diagnostic images

Participate in the clinical audit of radionuclide imaging in nuclear medicine

• Ethical and governance regulations and guidance
• Risks associated with the procedure