What DVTK LTD does

DVTk is an open source project that provides a suite of testing, validation, and diagnostic tools for DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) communication protocols used in medical imaging environments. The project serves software developers, test engineers, and service engineers in the healthcare domain who need to build, validate, and troubleshoot DICOM interfaces across medical imaging systems. DVTk has operated since 2010, with primary maintenance by ICT Group (a Dutch industrial technology solutions provider) and Philips as a co-contributor.

The core product portfolio consists of eight Windows-based applications: DVT (DICOM Validation Tool), DICOM Editor, DICOM Network Analyzer, DICOM Compare, Storage SCP Emulator, Storage SCU Emulator, Query Retrieve SCP Emulator, and RIS Emulator. These tools operate against definition files that encode DICOM Information Object Definitions and are updated with each DICOM standard release cycle (2018a, 2020a, 2021a, 2024a). Functionality spans script-based conformance testing, TCP/IP network capture with PDU-level inspection, DICOM file editing and comparison, and emulation of PACS/RIS/modality endpoints for end-to-end interoperability testing. The tooling has been the basis for IHE-RO (Radiation Oncology) integration profile test tools for over a decade, embedding it into standardized interoperability testing workflows.

DVTk operates a hybrid open source/commercial model. Core tools are freely downloadable after registration on DVTk.org, while monetization occurs through ICT Group: tiered DICOM definition file sales (€1,250–€4,750 per company, one-time, scaled by company size), two-day training programs (DICOM Fundamentals and Mirth Connect Fundamentals), and professional services including DICOM consultancy, implementation support, verification & validation testing, interface scanning, and conformance statement writing. Customer segments include medical device manufacturers, healthcare institutions (hospitals, clinics), and system suppliers in radiation oncology. Go-to-market is community-led via the DVTk website, forum, GitHub repository, newsletter, and industry events such as SIIM, with direct sales for commercial services channeled through ICT Group.

Name

DVTK LTD

Legal name

DVTk

Website

https://dvtk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DVTk is an open source project providing DICOM protocol testing, validation, and diagnostic tools for healthcare software developers, test engineers, and service engineers building medical imaging interfaces, monetized through ICT Group's definition file sales, training, and professional services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Imaging Interoperability Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Document & Data Exchange (C-CDA, CCD, Direct Messaging) (HLACABAI)

Keywords

• DICOM testing tools
• Medical imaging software
• Healthcare interoperability
• DICOM conformance validation
• Open source medical tools

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Definition Files Sales: Updated DICOM standard definition files (2018a, 2020a, 2021a, 2023d, 2024a) are sold for a one-time fee per company, with revenue reinvested in the open source project. Pricing tiers based on company size.
2. Training Services: Two-day training programs for DICOM Fundamentals and DVTk applied, and Mirth Connect Fundamentals training offered for a fee.
3. DICOM Consultancy: Expert DICOM consultancy services including interoperability analysis, interface development advice, conformance statement writing, and regulatory compliance guidance.
4. Verification & Validation Services: DICOM verification and validation testing services for vendors and healthcare institutions.
5. DICOM Implementation Services: Assistance with DICOM interface implementation including library selection, regulatory compliance, development, and testing support.
6. DICOM Interface Scan: Expert analysis of product DICOM communication to identify interoperability problems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DVTK is an open source project for testing, validating, and diagnosing DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) communication in medical environments. It provides a suite of free downloadable Windows-based tools (DVT, DICOM Editor, Network Analyzer, Compare, and Storage/Query Retrieve/RIS emulators) along with paid DICOM standard definition files and commercial services (consultancy, training, implementation, verification and validation) delivered by ICT Group.

Product overview

DVTK is an open source project for testing, validating, and diagnosing DICOM communication in medical environments. The portfolio consists of multiple core validation and testing applications (DVT, DICOM Editor, DICOM Network Analyzer, DICOM Compare, emulators for Storage SCP/SCU, Query Retrieve SCP, and RIS), offered as Windows-based tools. ICT Group maintains these open source tools and provides commercial services including DICOM consultancy, implementation assistance, verification & validation testing, interface scanning, conformance statement writing, and training programs (DICOM Fundamentals and Mirth Connect). The tools work with definition files that specify DICOM Information Object Definitions, and updated definition file sets are available for purchase to support current DICOM standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DVT (DICOM Validation Tool) The main DICOM Validation Tool from the DVTk Project providing DICOM test script management, built-in validation engine, definition file management, results management with reporting, and Storage Emulator support for testing and validating DICOM interfaces.
• DICOM Editor Tool to quickly edit and modify DICOM files at the attribute level, including adding and removing attributes, modifying values, and manipulating sequence attributes.
• DICOM Network Analyzer Application that captures and analyzes DICOM TCP/IP packages from the network, with deep inspection down to PDU level, message validation, capture file saving, and DICOM file extraction from captured data.
• DICOM Compare Tool for comparing DICOM files to identify differences in attribute presence, VR, multiplicity, values, and pixel data with filtering options.
• Storage SCP Emulator Emulates the storage functionality of a workstation or complete PACS system including Storage Commitment, with data validation, duplicate management, and DICOM Dir generation.
• Storage SCU Emulator
• Query Retrieve SCP Emulator Creates a Query Retrieve Information Model based on DICOM input files, supporting Patient Root, Study Root, and Patient Study Root Information Models with querying, retrieving, and move request support.
• RIS Emulator Emulates a RIS system with Modality Worklist Information Model built from DICOM files, providing detailed XML and HTML logging of all communication.
• DICOM Standard Definition Files Updated DICOM definition files for validation against current DICOM standards, containing 176 Storage IOD definitions and normalized definition files, sold as a one-time license per company tier.
• DICOM Consultancy Expert consultancy services from ICT Group offering DICOM analysis, advice on DICOM library selection, 2nd generation DICOM (IHE-RO) implementation, and regulatory approval assistance for medical device manufacturers.
• DICOM Implementation Professional services for adding DICOM interfaces to products, including library selection, regulatory compliance guidance, development processes, testing, and technical file creation.
• DICOM Verification and Validation Testing services for DICOM interfaces and interoperability validation between products, including automated testing and continuous integration support for vendors and healthcare institutions.
• DICOM Interface Scan Expert analysis of product DICOM communication to identify interoperability problems including DICOM non-compliances, incorrect encoding, and application behavior issues.
• DICOM Conformance Statement Writing Expert support in writing accurate and complete DICOM conformance statements describing supported services, behavior, and SOP classes at attribute level.
• DICOM Fundamentals and DVTk Applied Training Two-day training combining theoretical knowledge of DICOM with practical application using DVTk tools, covering DICOM services, IODs, and DICOM tooling.
• Mirth Connect Fundamentals Training Two-day hands-on training on Mirth Connect Open Source Communication Server for routing medical (HL7, DICOM) messages.

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ICT GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICT Group is the main contributor and maintainer of the DVTk open source project. They invest time and effort in updating definition files and maintaining the tools. Any revenue from commercial services is reinvested in the DVTk open source project. ICT Group provides all commercial services through the DVTk website.
• PhilipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilips is listed as one of the main contributors to the DVTk open source project alongside ICT Group.
• IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDVTk is being used as the basis for IHE validation test tools for over a decade. Specifically used for IHE-RO (Radiation Oncology) integration profiles including NTPL-S, MMR-RO, and TRWF to help system suppliers test interoperability.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Laurel Bridge Software: Provides DICOM and HL7 testing, migration, and integration tools for medical imaging workflows. Directly comparable to DVTk as a DICOM-focused testing and interoperability vendor serving PACS and medical device manufacturers.
• Innolitics: DICOM and medical imaging software consultancy that helps medical device companies with DICOM/HL7 implementation, FDA submissions, and interoperability testing. Comparable services overlap with ICT Group's DICOM consultancy via DVTk.
• DCMTK (OFFIS Institute): Open source DICOM toolkit library widely used in medical imaging software development. Closely comparable to DVTk as a long-standing open source DICOM reference implementation maintained by a research-driven organization.
• Medical Connections: UK-based DICOM and HL7 consultancy providing testing, validation, and integration services to healthcare vendors. Comparable to DVTk's commercial services arm with similar DICOM interoperability focus.
• PixelMed Publishing: Developer of DICOM software toolkits and reference implementations including DICOMscope and the PixelMed Java DICOM toolkit. Comparable to DVTk as a developer-focused DICOM tools provider with open source heritage.

Broad incumbents

• Philips HealthSuite: Global medical imaging and healthcare IT vendor that is also a main contributor to DVTk. Comparable as a healthcare interoperability player whose internal DICOM tooling demands overlap with DVTk's product scope.
• GE Healthcare: One of the largest medical imaging and PACS vendors globally, with internal DICOM conformance testing needs. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose DICOM tooling requirements are served by DVTk-style solutions.

Emerging players

• Redox: Healthcare API integration platform modernizing clinical data exchange using FHIR. Comparable thematically as a healthcare interoperability enabler, though focused on cloud APIs rather than DICOM conformance testing.
• NextGen Healthcare (Mirth): Owns the Mirth Connect open source healthcare integration engine used for HL7/DICOM messaging. DVTk offers Mirth Connect Fundamentals training, indicating direct ecosystem adjacency and shared customer base.

Others

• IHE International: Standards body defining healthcare interoperability profiles. DVTk serves as the foundation for IHE-RO validation tools, making IHE a core standards-setting counterpart and ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/dvtk-org/DVTk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dvtk
• Facebookfacebook.com/dvtk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DVTK LTD