Which of the following is one of the six aims of quality assurance programmes for radiography?

• A. Reduce costs
• B. Improve image color
• C. Increase exposure
• D. Extend scanning time

Answer: (A)

Quality assurance in radiography aims to keep image quality high while using resources efficiently, which includes reducing unnecessary costs. When QA processes catch equipment faults, calibration drift, or technique inconsistencies early, images are more likely to be acceptable on the first attempt. This minimizes repeat exposures, reduces wasted film or digital storage, and lowers patient rework and workflow delays, all of which contribute to lower overall costs. In this light, cost reduction emerges as a natural objective of QA programs.

The other options don’t fit this goal: improving image color isn’t a standard radiographic quality criterion since images are evaluated in grayscale for diagnostic purposes; increasing exposure raises patient dose and is not a goal of QA; extending scanning time would decrease efficiency and throughput, which QA aims to optimize, not extend.