Imaging Prep Lookup — Australian Radiology & Nuclear Medicine Patient Preparation Guide

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Imaging Prep Lookup

Quick lookup of patient prep for ultrasound, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, DEXA and other scans. Type the scan name or browse by type. Print or copy to hand to your patient.

🇦🇺 AustraliaI-MED · Qscan · InsideRadiology (RANZCR)
📋 Sources: InsideRadiology (RANZCR), I-MED Radiology, Qscan Radiology. Prep details vary by provider — always confirm with the imaging centre when booking. This is a general guide only.

Common questions

Why does prep vary between radiology providers?

Different providers (I-MED, Qscan, Lumus, Sonic Healthplus, Healius, Mater, Sullivan Nicolaides, etc.) tune their prep instructions based on equipment, radiologist preferences, and patient-flow considerations. Most preps differ only in detail (e.g. 750 mL vs 1 L of water), not principle.

When booking, the radiology team will confirm the prep at their site. This page gives the general consensus instructions so you and your patient know what to expect.

Patient on metformin needing IV contrast — what to do?

Per RANZCR guidance:

  • eGFR > 30 ml/min/1.73m²: No need to stop metformin before contrast
  • eGFR 30 or below: Withhold metformin from the time of contrast administration. Recheck eGFR at 48 hours before resuming.
  • Always confirm recent eGFR (within 3 months) before IV iodinated contrast.

Source: RANZCR Iodinated Contrast Media Guideline. Individual radiology providers may have stricter site-specific protocols.

What if a patient can't fast (e.g. diabetic on insulin)?

Discuss with the radiology provider at booking. Common approaches:

  • Early morning appointment so the patient fasts overnight and eats straight after
  • Insulin dose adjustment with the patient's usual doctor (often half the morning dose, omit short-acting)
  • Small sips of water permitted with most fasting scans
  • Some providers will accept a 2–3 hour fast for type 1 diabetics where a longer fast is unsafe
Pregnant patient — is the scan safe?
  • Ultrasound — safe in pregnancy, no ionising radiation
  • MRI — generally safe in pregnancy (avoid gadolinium where possible, especially first trimester)
  • CT and X-ray — involves ionising radiation; only when clinically necessary, especially in first trimester. Discuss alternatives.
  • Nuclear medicine — generally avoided in pregnancy. Lactation may require interruption depending on the agent.

Patients are routinely asked to confirm pregnancy status before CT, MRI with contrast, fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine.

Common scans not requiring any prep

Most patients are surprised — these need no prep at all:

  • Thyroid ultrasound
  • Breast ultrasound
  • Musculoskeletal ultrasound (shoulder, knee, ankle, etc.)
  • Scrotal ultrasound
  • Echocardiogram
  • Carotid Doppler
  • Soft-tissue / lump ultrasound
  • Most MRI without contrast (just safety questionnaire)
  • CT head, CT chest without contrast
  • Mammogram (just no deodorant/talc that day)

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