Preparing for Your Visit

Do not eat (fast) for at least 8 to 10 hours before an abdominal ultrasound. Overnight fasting is enough. For pelvic ultrasounds, drink 5 glasses of water one hour before the test and do not empty your bladder. If you are booked for both an abdominal and a pelvic ultrasound, follow both: do not eat for 10 hours beforehand, and finish drinking 5 glasses of water one hour before the test. Ask your doctor whether to continue or skip any medications.

Purchase an over-the-counter rectal Fleet enema from the pharmacy and use it at least 2 hours before your examination. Follow the package instructions. Finish drinking 5 glasses of water one hour before the test and do not empty your bladder. Ask your doctor whether to continue or skip any medications.

Under 16 weeks or dating ultrasound: drink 4 glasses of clear fluid an hour before your appointment. A full bladder gives the sonographer clearer first-trimester images. Second and third trimester: no preparation required. Our certified NT sonographers perform all stages.

Your doctor should give you three documents: a bloodwork requisition, an ultrasound requisition, and the IPS measurement paper. Bloodwork is done the same day as the ultrasound. After your ultrasound, please do not leave the clinic until our staff returns the completed IPS measurement paper to you.

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. High-frequency sound waves image the valves and chambers to show how well the heart is working. Do not apply gel or lotion to your chest area on the day of your test. No other preparation is needed.

Ask your doctor whether to skip any routine medications on the day of the test, since some medicines can affect the results. Never stop a medication without talking to your doctor first. Do not apply cream or lotion to your chest on the day of your test. The test involves exercise, so wear loose, comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Please do not bring valuables.

Contrast is used during an echocardiogram to show the flow of blood through the heart and the heart muscle. SonoVue is a contrast solution injected into a vein during the test. The contrast is visible as it flows through the heart, which helps your doctor reach a diagnosis. Follow the instructions given when booking.

Tell the clinic before your appointment if you have any medication allergies or have had an allergic reaction to a COVID vaccine.

A Holter monitor is a small, portable device that records your heart's electrical activity for 24, 48, or 72 hours, or for 7 to 14 days. Please shower before the test and do not apply lotion to your chest. For 24 and 48-hour recordings, do not bathe, shower, or swim while you wear the monitor; it records non-stop and cannot get wet. For 72-hour, 7-day, and 14-day recordings, you can shower: our technician shows you how to remove the monitor, refit the electrodes, and care for it during the recording. Record any chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or other cardiac symptoms in the diary provided.