IMPROVING  YOUR  X-RAY  I.D.

Is your x-ray ID hard to read?  Is it faint, sloppy, fuzzy-looking?  Not sure what data has to be included?   

PROBLEM:  INCORRECT OR INADEQUATE DATA ON CARD

SOLUTION:  You can make your own ID using your word-processing program and a laser printer.

1.      Set the top margin to as small as possible.

2.      Set the left margin to match the same distance from the left as your imprinter and your cassette lead blockers. Obviously, all cassettes must have the same blocker orientation to make your ID match up; that is, the ID card, all of the cassette blockers, and the imprinter all must be the same distance from the left.  If you have different types of cassettes with different blocker spacing, your can insert a cardboard spacer in your imprinter to hold the inserted film as far away from the left edge as is necessary.

3.      For Microsoft Word, use the “drawing” or “borders” function to draw a box around the words.  For  WordPerfect, use the “tables” function. You will have to experiment with font size and spacing.

4.      When you have the spacing set up perfectly, save the document as a document template, and add an automatic date function, and it will always be ready to use. A new ID sheet is printed for each patient; you don’t need to have cards printed.

5.      Run the ID on plain typing paper (half sheets) and use it in your darkroom ID imprinter as usual.

6.      You can write your exposure factors on the paper and file the paper (either in the patient’s chart or in a separate file), as a record of the x-rays taken and the exposure factors used.  Remember that the law requires logging of x-ray exposures [WAC 246-225-020(2)(m)].

7.      WAC 246-808-565 requires the following to appear on your ID, permanently imprinted on each film - and clearly legible:

a. patient's name AND AGE
b. doctor's name, facility name, and address
c. date of study

8.      As long as you are entering the patient's age, I recommend that you add "M" or "F" after the age, to indicate male or female, since some names do not clearly indicate the sex of the patient.

PROBLEM:  DATA IS MISALIGNED WITH THE BLOCKER AREA ON THE CASSETTE

SOLUTION:  Use a cardboard spacer in your ID imprinter to hold the film the necessary distance away from the edge of the imprinter.  Three things must all be lined up:  the blocker area on the cassettes, the window where the light is emitted from the imprinter, and the rectangle containing the data on your ID card.

PROBLEM:  ID IMPRINTED TOO LIGHT OR TOO DARK

SOLUTION:  Control the light emission from the imprinter

1.      Some imprinters are time dependent.  In these cases, it is vital to carefully count the number of seconds the imprinter is held down - a longer time to make the ID darker, and a shorter time to make the ID lighter.

2.      Other imprinters are automatic.  In these cases, there should be a way to adjust the amount of light emitted on the bottom or at the back of the imprinter.

3.      Some imprinters have a setting for “screen” or “non-screen.”  Usually, “screen” is the setting to use.  If your imprinter has a switch like this, be sure to tape it to the correct setting so that it does not accidentally get reversed. 

PROBLEM:  ID SHOWS A MUCH WIDER EXPOSED AREA OF LIGHT THAT IS NOT CONFINED TO A SMALL ENOUGH RECTANGLE

SOLUTION:  The foam padding around the imprinter has probably deteriorated and does not adequately restrict the emission of light.  A new imprinter must be purchased.