Quality Assurance: QA is the overall system or programme that ensures radiographic images are consistently produced to a high standard, safely, and in compliance with regulations. It includes everything from staff training and equipment maintenance to audit processes and policy development. It involves procedures, documentation, monitoring, and staff responsibilities. It is preventative, aiming to stop problems before they occur. A QA programme must include the named legal person responsible for the practice. It should also keep a record of the types and frequency of radiographs taken, and include a grading system that is regularly audited to maintain high imaging standards.
Quality Control: It is a component of QA. It refers to the specific checks, tests, and measurements carried out to ensure the radiographic equipment and image quality are functioning as they should. It is detective, identifying faults or deviations from the standard, it includes routine technical tasks.
QC helps identify issues that need correcting, whereas QA ensures there are processes in place to prevent them in the first place.