HIDA Scan

How to prepare for your test:

Don’t eat or drink 4 – 6 hours prior to the exam.  Also, don’t take narcotics, such as morphine.  You may bring in a CD to listen to during the exam.

How long will the test take?

About 90 minutes.

What is the purpose of the test?

A HIDA scan (also known as a gallbladder scan or cholescintigraphy) is a test done to diagnose obstruction of the bile ducts (for example, by a gallstone or a tumor), disease of the gallbladder, and bile leaks. 

How is the test performed?

You will be given an intravenous injection of a radioactive chemical.  Your liver will remove the test chemical from your blood and secrete it into bile.  The test chemical will then disperse everywhere that the bile goes – into the bile ducts, the gallbladder, and the intestine.  A camera that senses radioactivity will then be placed over your abdomen and take a "picture" of your liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder.

After about an hour, you will receive an IV solution of a synthetic chemical called CCK (cholecystokinin) to “exercise” the gallbladder.  The CCK will help show how well the gallbladder is emptying and may reproduce the symptoms from which you have been suffering. 

How to register:

Please arrive 10 – 15 minutes early to register (unless you are instructed differently).   You will need to show a copy of your insurance card and driver’s license each time you register.

Where to register: