In the debate about age in mammography testing (“Panel to urge yearly mammograms at 40,” Main news, March 27), the quality of mammography testing services–a more basic but crucial concern for women–has been overlooked.
By mid-1996, the Food and Drug Administration’s first round of mammography facility inspections found 25 percent of the 9,000 facilities inspected–out of 10,000 facilities nationwide–had significant violations; the rate dropped to 10 percent during the second-year inspection, according to a recent U.S. General Accounting Office report. Although the GAO considers the violations rate drop a positive sign, the report warns that the inspection process itself is open to question, due to individual inspector reporting differences.
In addition, the GAO reports other concerns. Mammography equipment inspection procedures by the FDA were inadequate, and the FDA lacked the ability to guarantee that violations were quickly and properly addressed, according to the report.
Women who seek a mammography–at any age–should insist on full disclosure from their mammography facility to see if it is in full compliance with FDA standards. The quality of the service provider is as significant as is the age when the test is administered.
