Instructions are provided for the following services, please select your examination from the list below:
Fluroscopy
- E,S & D
Small Bowel F/T
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the examination. Small Bowel exams may take up to 3 hours to complete.
- Barium Enema (colon examination)
Two days before the examination:
Unrestricted amounts of clear liquids only (e.g. water, clear juice, Gatorade, Powerade, consommé, tea, coffee, or jello); no solid foods.
Day before the examination:
Unrestricted amounts of clear liquids only (e.g. water, clear juice, Gatorade, Powerade, consommé, tea, coffee, or jello); no solid foods.
At 5:00 pm drink one bottle of Magnesium Citrate laxative;
At 7:00 pm take 3 Dulcolax tablets (5 mg). Do not crush or chew tablets. Continue with a liquid diet for the rest of the day.
Day of colon examination:
You may have 1 glass of water or clear juice. Eat nothing until the examination is completed.
Diabetic patients should consult their physician regarding possible stoppage or reduction of insulin while fasting on ‘clear liquids only” diet.
Please continue to take your regular medications.
Ultrasound
- Abdominal
For morning appointment: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight or the morning of the examination.
For afternoon appointment: a light breakfast of toast, coffee or tea (no dairy products) 6 hours prior to the examination.
- Pelvic
Pregnancy or Obstetrical
Biophysical Profile or BPP
The bladder must be full!
1.5 hours prior to the examination drink 4-6 250 ml glasses of water and refrain from urinating. Finish all glasses of water 1 hour before time of examination.
- Abdomen & Pelvic
Renal or Renal/Bladder
Abdomen/Bladder
For morning appointment: Nothing to eat after midnight the night before examination, but 1 ½ hours prior to the examination drink 4-6 250-ml glasses of water and refrain from urinating. Finish all glasses of water 1 hour before examination.
For afternoon appointment: Nothing to eat 6 hours prior to the examination, but 1 ½ hours prior to the examination drink 4-6 250-ml glasses of water and refrain from urinating. Finish all glasses of water 1 hour before examination.
- Breast, Scrotal, Thyroid, any other small part u/s
No preparation required.
- Vascular ultrasounds: Echo, Carotid, Peripheral Venous and Peripheral Arterial
No preparation required.
Nuclear Medicine
- Bone Scan
No preparation required.
Bring most recent x-rays.
- Cardiac Gated Blood Pool Study GBP (Muga Scan)
No preparation required.
- Gallium Scan
No preparation required.
- Gastric Emptying Study
No smoking or intestinal medications after midnight the night before exam.
Fast after midnight the night before exam.
- GI Bleed
Do not eat any red meat for 3 days before examination.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before examination.
- HIDA Scan
Nothing by mouth after midnight the night before examination.
Examination may take 2-4 hours.
(Bring most recent abdominal imaging)
- Liver RBC Scan
No preparation required.
(No barium 1 week prior, which applies to all Nuc Med exams, and no intestinal exams 1 week prior)
- Liver and Spleen Scan
No preparation required.
(Bring most recent chest x-rays)
- Lung Ventilation and Perfusion Scan
Lung VQ Scan Meckel’s Diverticulum Scan
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before examination.
- MIBI – Myocardial Perfusion Scan
Fast 4 hours prior to examination.
Stay on a caffeine-free diet for 24 hours prior to examination.
Wear comfortable clothing with a button-down short-sleeve shirt.
Bring a list of medications.
Diabetic patients: If you take insulin to control your blood sugar please do not take them on the morning of your test unless you have been given a late appointment and are able to eat 4 hours prior to the test. Bring your insulin and/or oral medication with you as well as your glucometer.
Asthmatic patients: Please ensure you bring all you “puffers” ad other medications with you to the test and notify us at the time of your stress test that you are asthmatic.
- Parathyroid Scan
No preparation required.
- Renal Scan
For Hypertension:
Drink 3 cups of when arriving to the exam.
(At the time of booking patient is given an arrival time of 1-1.5 hours earlier than scheduled time)
Be off of ACE inhibitors for 3 days prior to the examination.
For Obstruction:
Drink 3-4 cups of water 30 min prior to the examination.
Standard (1 hour):
No preparation required.
- Thyroid Scan
Stop taking thyroid medication 4 weeks prior to the examination.
Need results of thyroid blood test at the time of scan.
- Thallium Scan
Fast 4-6 hours prior to exam.
Do not eat any foods containing potassium on the day of exam.
Cardiac Diagnostics
- Exercise Stress Test
MIBI
Fast 4 hours prior to examination.
Stay on a caffeine-free diet for 24 hours prior to examination.
Wear comfortable clothing with a button-down short-sleeve shirt.
Bring a list of medications.
Diabetic patients: If you take insulin to control your blood sugar please do not take them on the morning of your test unless you have been given a late appointment and are able to eat 4 hours prior to the test. Bring your insulin and/or oral medication with you as well as your glucometer.
Asthmatic patients: Please ensure you bring all you “puffers” ad other medications with you to the test and notify us at the time of your stress test that you are asthmatic.
- 24 Hour Holter Recording
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor
No preparation required.
Appointment is 10-20 min long to set up the monitor and the patient is required to return to the clinic the next morning between 7:30 am and 11:00 am to return the monitor for a reading.
MRI
- Abdomen and Pelvis
Do not eat or drink anything 4 hours prior to the exam.
Please remove any jewellery and piercings prior to the examination.
- All other MRI exams
No preparation required.
Please remove any jewellery and piercings prior to the examination.
CT
- Brain
Spine
Extremities
No preparation required.
- Abdomen
Pelvis
Total Body Scan
Patient should not eat or drink anything 4 hours prior to the exam.
All patients for CT abdomen and pelvis exams must arrive 45 min prior to their appointment to drink oral contrast.
- Angiogram
Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the exam.
No caffeine or exercise the night before or morning of the exam.
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Take your regular medications.
Diabetic patients should consult with their Doctor about taking oral hypoglycemics.
Patients will need to arrive 20 minutes early for their appointment.
- Virtual Colonoscopy
(Prep kit is given 3 days prior to appointment with full instructions)
2 Days before exam:
Start clear fluid diet. Includes water, juices without pulp such as white grape juice, cranberry or cranapple, decaffeinated coffee and soft drinks, popsicles, and weak tea without milk or cream. Broth, bouillon, and Boost are also acceptable clear fluids. Avoid all milk products.
Do not just drink water as you may feel faint.
You may take normal medications as directed. If you are on insulin, ask your physician about dose modifications.
1 Day before exam:
Breakfast: Dissolve first package of PICO-SALAX in a glass of cold water stirring constantly for 2 to 3 minutes until all dissolved. If the solution heats while stirring, let it cool or add more cold water before drinking. Drink this glass followed by an equal or larger glass of juice. Drink 4 or 5 more glasses of clear fluid over the next hour. You will experience frequent bowel movements within an hour. Stay close to a washroom. Take first ½ of READI-CAT
Lunch: Broth or Bouillon or Boost. Snack : Popsicles or decaffeinated soft drink.
Dinner: (about 5 pm to 6 pm) repeat breakfast instructions, take remaining READI-CAT
8 pm: Insert one BISACODYL rectal suppository. This should empty your bowel of any residual fluid.
No fluids after midnight except sips of fluid for any medications in the am.
Day of exam:
In the morning about 2 hours before test insert second BISACODYL rectal suppository, sips of fluid for any normal medications as directed.
If you are on insulin, ask your physician about dose modifications.
Try to empty bowel one last time just before the test to ensure little fluid is left before the test.
