What You Must Tell Us Beforehand :
If you have had an adverse reaction to a previous contrast injection or other drugs.
If you have any renal impairment.
We will ask you to complete a questionnaire before the examination and sign a consent form for the contrast injection if it is required.

Preparation :
Spine, Bones, and Joints: No preparation required.
Head and Chest: Fast for 2 hours. Keep well hydrated.
Abdomen and Pelvis: Fast for 4 hours. One hour before your examination, drink 1 litre of water over 15 minutes.

What Happens During Your Procedure :
After the preparation for your particular examination and your consent if a contrast injection is to be given, you will change into a gown (except for head scans), then lie on a bed that slides through the opening in the scanner. The bed will go through the scanner once for the planning scan, then once for each scan. Some scans, such as liver CT, may require multiple scans over a few minutes as the contrast flows through.

How Long Does It Take :
After the preparation, the scan itself takes about 15 minutes.

Special Precautions :
You may not be able to have the contrast injection if you have had a reaction to a previous injection or have significant renal failure.

After Your Examination : 
Have a high fluid intake for 24 hours to flush out the contrast.

Possible Complications: Allergic reactions to contrast material can occur, but significant reactions are rare and generally respond to adrenaline. Our staff members are equipped and trained to treat contrast reactions.

Your Images and Report : 
After your examination, we deliver your report to your doctor electronically or via fax, at the time of appointment with your doctor if the report is not available please contact us and we will try an organise your report as quick as possible. Armadale Radiology will store digital copies of all studies on our secure database for comparison with any future examinations. Please bring any previous imaging with you for comparison. It is important that you discuss report findings with your doctor.

Special Instructions for Diabetics :
If your examination requires fasting, book an early morning appointment and have your breakfast and diabetic medication after the examination.
If your examination requires an intravenous injection of contrast medium, we need to know your renal function. Please bring along the results of your most recent blood test creatinine level.
If you are taking metformin and receive an intravenous injection of contrast medium, you will be given special instructions to follow afterwards.