To establish an objective image scoring method for abdominal ultrasound based on virtual ultrasound model, and evaluate the intra- and inter-observer consistency.

Image scoring criteria were set up for the six abdominal standard sections with eight distinct scoring elements. After training with virtual ultrasound model, 11 students collected the images, which were then randomly scrambled. Two experts with more than 10 years of clinical experience in ultrasound medicine scored the above images. Each image was evaluated twice, and the intra- and inter-observer consistency were evaluated with Cohen's kappa value.

Agreement was considered almost perfect, for the overall kappa value was between 0.854-1.000 and 0.801-1.000 (P＜0.05). For some of the scoring elements, there was a moderate degree of consistency. The scores of 11 students after virtual ultrasound training were moderate.

This new abdominal ultrasound image scoring method is highly reliable in terms of the total score and score of each element, which provides a relevant quality control tool for ultrasound operators.