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FDG-PET/CT Accreditation

NEMA Phantom Video
This Video explains the phantom measurement required to attain and maintain PET/CT EARL Accreditation.

EARL has set up the EARL FDG-PET/CT accreditation programme, which was launched in July 2010, to help imaging sites meet the standard requirements indicated in the guideline. The EARL FDG-PET/CT accreditation programme is endorsed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Imaging Group.

Why it is of importance to seek EARL FDG PET/CT accreditation and how you will benefit:

  • Independent quality control/ assurance by a fully authorised expert body. EARL´s know-how is based on imaging experts of renowned worldwide reputation with a global leading role in PET/CT research, providing advice within the program and monitor its development. 
  • Comparable scanner performance across multiple sites through harmonisation of the reconstruction and interpretation of PET/CT scans (reducing inter-/intra-institute variability in SUV results; providing lower/upper limits of recovery coefficients; calibration factor within +/-10%): results can be compared, exchanged and combined.
  • Accurate, reproducible and quantitative assessment enabled through standardisation of methodology, including patient preparation, scan acquisition, image processing and analysis.
  • Essential quality assurance in daily clinical practice as well as high eligibility is a participant in multicentre trials.
  • Accredited centres of excellence strengthen their status via publication on the EARL website, a signet sticker and an accreditation certificate.
  • Upon replacement of equipment you will have a reconstruction available for quantitative comparison between different generations or makes and models of PET/CT scanners

For further information on the rationale, please refer to the presentation of R. Boellaard, scientific leader of the accreditation programme and watch the video on youtube.

 

COST OF ACCREDIATION

To gain EARL FDG-PET/CT accreditation, sites are required to regularly (cross-)calibrate their PET/CT scanner and to regularly perform image quality control (QC) experiments, which are described in detail in the above-mentioned guideline. After performance of these QC experiments, the department will be able to compare, exchange and combine FDG-PET/CT findings.

The Accreditation fee refers to calendar year / per site / per scanner, which covers the costs for the initial Accreditation process and maintaining the status of an EARL accredited Center of Excellence. For the first year the Accreditation fee is € 800,00 net + an initial fee of € 200,00 net. Further on the Accreditation fee is € 800,00 net per calendar year / per scanner / per Accreditation.

In 2010, EARL has successfully started the accreditation process in 11 European sites, which also allowed their participation in an EORTC clinical study in which imaging is involved. EARL has gained valuable experience through accrediting these centres and used this know-how to further improve its accreditation documents and procedures. Based on the results of this pilot study, a redefinition (improvement) of the SUV recoveries was performed. See "accreditation specifications".

EARL is very keen on enhancing the quality standard of PET/CT sites for both daily use and for multicentre trials and will continue to expand the accreditation to more PET/CT centres in Europe and beyond. Please see the statistics (as of July 2014) which show the immens increase of sites participating in the accreditation programme.

For further information concerning the benefits and services of the accreditation programme please refer to the general information sheet as well as to the information sheet for CROs and pharmaceutical companies. If you are interested in the EARL FDG-PET/CT accreditation programme, please contact EARL (earl@eanm.org).

You can join the EARL FDG-PET/CT accreditation program each quarter:

Quarter 1
Deadline payment of accreditation fee: 04 January
Deadline submission of online questionnaire: 25 January
Deadline submission of QC data: 16 February 

Quarter 2
Deadline payment of accreditation fee: 04 April
Deadline submission of online questionnaire: 25 April
Deadline submission of QC data: 16 May

Quarter 3
Deadline payment of accreditation fee: 04 July
Deadline submission of online questionnaire: 25 July
Deadline submission of QC data: 16 August

Quarter 4
Deadline payment of accreditation fee: 04 October
Deadline submission of online questionnaire: 25 October
Deadline submission of QC data: 16 November


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