The darkroom in the radiology department is the place where x-ray films are processed. The darkroom is very important place in radiology department of hospital. The term dark room over states the case, since complete darkness is unnecessary. In fact a great deal of safe illumination is provided to facilitate darkroom procedures.
A darkroom in radiology is a room specifically designed for the development of x-ray film. It is kept dark to minimize the amount of light exposure to the film, which can cause fogging and reduce the quality of the images. In a darkroom, radiographers or radiologic technologists process and view the x-ray films using specialized equipment such as film processors, safelight lamps, and workstations.
The following general guidelines shall be followed while planning to construct a darkroom.
A) The darkroom depending on the volume of work and number of x-ray units. Usually two or three x-ray room may be served by a single darkroom.
B) The site of darkroom shall be between two x-ray rooms.
C) A darkroom size must be in 100 square feet and 11 feet in ceiling.
D)The darkroom built such that it is absolutely light proof and dark without allowing any light leaks through window or door .
E) The entry to the darkroom is provided with light lock door. This is made possible by providing two doors and zigzag passage in between them.
F) The walls are fixed the light proof cassette hatch boxes to help transfer in cassette from and to adjacent x-ray room.
G) The Wall of x-ray room is made of concrete walls of 6″ thickness or 9″ thick brick walls which are equivalent to 1.5 mm thickness of lead are sufficient.
H) The walls should be covered with chemical resistant material such as special paint , varnish , concrete or ceramic tiles.
I) The darkroom temperature has to be maintained between 68-75 degree F.
J) Water supply shall be contagious as the tap to master tank shall have running water as long the processing tank.
K) The floor of darkroom shall be not slippery.
L) The electric connections in walls shall be well earthed and made shockproof.
M) The white light should be provided in ceiling to give diffuse for the entire room.
N) The two safe light are essential , one near the wet bench about 7 feet height from floor and the other light near dry bench about 3 feet height from top of the dry table. The safe light shall have 15 watts bulbs inside darkroom.
O) In darkroom has two side one is dry and other is wet side. In dry side , the film boxes and cassettes shall be kept. And the wet side the chemical tanks shall be kept.
What is the function of darkroom in radiology ?
The main function of a darkroom in radiology is to process and develop x-ray film, which is used to create images of the inside of the body. The darkroom is kept dark to minimize the amount of light exposure to the film, which can cause fogging and reduce the quality of the images. Inside the darkroom, radiographers or radiologic technologists use specialized equipment, such as film processors and safelight lamps, to process the x-ray film and create high-quality images that can be used for diagnostic purposes. The darkroom also serves as a work area for radiographers or technologists to view and evaluate the developed x-ray film.
List Of Darkroom Accessories And Other Equipment.
The number of darkroom accessories depends on the number of x-ray plans and number of radiographs done per day in each darkroom.
For darkroom catering to 2 x-ray rooms the list of accessories needed are as follows :-
1) Different size of cassettes
2) Processing tanks -3
3) Square or round safe lights of green or red filter glass.
4) Dry wood branch of size.
5) Wet wood branch
6) Masonry master tank with water supply and drainage.
7) Water basin with water supply.
8) Steel Almirah for storage of film and accessories.
9) Black or blue -black curtains for doors and windows.
10) Tube light bulb or white light fixture.
11) Ceiling fan or pedestal fan.
12) Exhaust fan fixture with light proof protection.
13) Cheat shatd
14) lead letters and numbers (L or R) markers
15) X-ray viewing boxes
16) Chemical ( developer and fixer)
Darkroom Procedure During X-ray Film Processing.
To obtain the best results from the x-ray machine, following should be observed generally in darkroom.
1) Darkroom should be totally dark and no light should enter in the room.
2) Loading and unloading of films in the cassette should be done only in darkroom under stander safe light.
3) A qualified and trained radiographer should only be allowed to operate the x-ray equipment.
4) Film should be stored in dry and dark place.
5) The intensifying screen should be handled with care and wet fingers marks of any chemicals should not touch the screens.
6) The developer and the fixer solution should always be covered and preferably new solution to be prepared after every 2 months or 250 films which ever is earlier.
7) The temperature of Developer and fixer to be maintained between 25 to 30° C.
8) Solution should be stirred with Wooden stick each time films are dipped. Separate wooden sticks each for developer and fixer should be used.