Contrast and Drug Recording [QSI Ref: XR-513]

Recording of dose, name, batch number and expiry date for contrast medium used for CT examinations

Reaction to intravenous (IV) contrast agents and side effects from drugs are uncommon but potentially serious occurrences. Maintaining a record of the batch and dose is therefore important for medicolegal reasons, and is a recommendation of the Royal College of Radiologists who now endorse the RANZCR guidelines (Ref. 1). This audit can help to ensure that adequate records are kept.

The standard: 

Every request should record the dose, batch number, expiry date and name of any intravenous contrast agent or drug used in that procedure. The procedure for recording will differ between institutions and the methodology should be adjusted accordingly.

Target: 

100%

Indicators: 

% records containing the information set out in the standard.

Data items to be collected: 

For each request, whether each of the data items set out in the standard is present or absent.

Suggested number: 

50 consecutive investigations.

If information is missing, meetings should be held with all the radiographers and clinical radiology support staff to ensure that the standard is known and understood.

Radiographers should be reminded to record all appropriate information at the time of the examination.

Review of records. Audit Assistant to review (5 hours).

Clerical staff to identify and collect together the records (5 hours).

1. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) Iodinated Contrast Media Guideline, 2011. Updated March 2018 https://www.ranzcr.com/search/ranzcr-iodinated-contrast-guidelines

Taken from Clinical Audit in Radiology 100+ recipes RCR 1996, updated by K A Duncan