To assess the image quality of radiographic units we developed a set of three relatively simple tests. With this set we investigated the performance of two small film x-ray units and seven dark rooms in chest disease clinics in Egypt. As a reference we performed the same tests at the Consultation Bureau for Tuberculosis and at the Radiology Department of the Medical Centre, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. The tests revealed deficiencies during several phases of the production of radiographs at the chest disease clinics in Egypt, as well as at the Consultation Bureau for Tuberculosis, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. The results of the tests were used to advise the radiology units tested on how to improve their quality. We believe, that this set of tests can be applied to any radiography unit to find ways for image quality improvement.