Hepatobiliary (HIDA) Scan

A HIDA scan evaluates gallbladder function, suspicious right upper stomach pain, and acute cholecystitis, an obstruction of the bile duct. Click here for more information about gallbladder disease risk factors, symptoms and treatment options.

What to Bring

• Your physician order (your physician may have already sent this to us)
• Personal ID
• Insurance Cards

How to Prepare

• Prior to bedtime, the night before the test, please eat a candy bar, power bar or drink a glass of whole milk.
• You must fast 6 hours before the exam.
• Please hold narcotic medications 4 hours prior to test.
• Please inform the technologist if you are pregnant.
• If you wear an on-body device (insulin pump, insulin regulators, Neulasta, other chemo/insulin devices, etc.), you must inform your technologist.

What to Expect

• The technologist will explain the test and answer any questions you may have.
• You will be lying on your back on an examination table or stretcher for images to be taken.
• You will be given a small amount of radioactive tracer (the imaging agent) in your vein. There are no side effects to the injection.
• After the injection of the imaging agent, you will have images taken for approximately 60 minutes.
• If your doctor has ordered ejection fraction (gallbladder function) to be calculated, the technologist will give you 8 ounces of Ensure Plus to drink after 1 hour of imaging.
• After you drink the Ensure Plus, you will be seated in the lobby for 1 hour to allow the Ensure to take effect. After 1 hour, the final image will be taken.
• The exam may take 1-2 hours total.

After the Exam

• You may resume your medications as prescribed.
• Your study will be reviewed by a Radiologist and the results sent to your physician. Your physician will discuss these results with you.