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Safe Mammography Doses
Each year, 40 million mammograms are performed in the United States at 8,800 facilities certified to follow the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA), which requires that all mammogram facilities be calibrated and tested for accurate X-ray exposures.
NIST’s calibration laboratory for mammographic X-rays helps to ensure that patients receive the appropriate X-ray exposures, which means fewer repeat tests and lower radiation doses.
NIST provides accurate references and a biennial proficiency testing program for mammography inspectors to ensure that they have the tools they need to support accurate diagnoses and minimize radiation exposure for everyone receiving a mammogram.