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Preparations before your exam
Find your exam below and follow these steps. We also confirm your instructions when we call you.
Specialized
Cardiac PET
- No caffeine for 24 hours: coffee, tea, soda, chocolate and decaf products included.
- Do not eat for 4 hours before your exam. Water is fine.
- No smoking the day of your exam and no strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
- Bring a list of your medicines. Ask your doctor about heart and asthma medicines before your test.
- Wear a two-piece outfit with short sleeves.
Onco PET
- The day before, eat a low-carb, high-protein diet. Avoid sweets, bread, pasta, rice and cereal.
- Do not eat for 6 hours before your exam. For morning exams, do not eat after midnight.
- Avoid exercise for 24 hours before your exam.
- If you are diabetic, tell us when you schedule. We will give you instructions for your diabetes medicine.
- Dress warmly in clothes without zippers or metal.
Amyloid PET
- Drink plenty of water before your appointment.
- You can eat and take your usual medicines.
- Wear comfortable clothes without metal. Leave jewelry at home.
- A family member or caregiver is welcome to come with you.
High Imaging
MRI
- No need to change your diet or medicines, except for MRCP (nothing to eat or drink for 2 hours).
- Wear clothes without metal. Leave jewelry, watches and credit cards at home.
- Tell us if you have a pacemaker, stent, implant or any metal in your body.
- Tell us if you are pregnant or have kidney problems.
CT Scan
- If your exam uses contrast, do not eat or drink for 4 hours before your appointment.
- If you are allergic to contrast or iodine, tell your doctor. You may need medicine 12 hours before.
- If you are diabetic, have high blood pressure, are over 60 or have one kidney, you need a recent blood test (BUN and creatinine) from the last 30 days.
- Tell us if you are or might be pregnant.
3D Mammography
- Do not wear deodorant, powder, lotion or perfume on the day of your exam.
- Wear a two-piece outfit. You will change into a gown from the waist up.
- Bring your previous mammograms if they were done somewhere else, so we can compare.
- Download and fill out the mammography questionnaire before your visit.
Low Imaging
Ultrasound
- Preparation depends on your exam. We will tell you exactly what to do when we schedule.
- Some abdominal exams require not eating or drinking for up to 12 hours.
- Some pelvic exams require drinking up to 48 ounces of water 2 hours before and not emptying your bladder.
X-Ray
- No special preparation is needed for most X-rays.
- Remove jewelry and metal from the area being imaged.
- Tell the technologist if you are or might be pregnant.
Bone Density (DEXA)
- Do not take calcium supplements for 24 hours before your scan.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes without zippers, belts or metal.
- Tell us if you recently had a barium exam or contrast for a CT scan. You may need to reschedule.
- Download and fill out the DEXA questionnaire before your visit.
CT with IV contrast: if you are diabetic, over 60, have high blood pressure or only one kidney, you need a recent blood test (BUN and creatinine). Ask your doctor before your exam.
Ready to book your exam?
Call us. In one call we verify your insurance and book your exam.