Local diagnostic reference levels for routine chest X-ray examinations at a public sector hospital in central South Africa.

Background: Dose optimisation is a radiation protection guideline recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for adherence to the 'as low as reasonably achievable' (ALARA) principle. Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are used to optimise patients' radiation protection for diagnostic and interventional procedures and are particularly useful for frequently performed examinations such as chest X-rays.

Aim: To establish the local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) for routine chest X-rays.