What to eat – You may be told to drink only clear liquids after midnight the night before the scan. Depending on what part of your body will be scanned, you may need to stop all eating and drinking 4 hours before the scan. For some scans, you can eat and drink normally.

 

Your medications and health history – Ask whether you should take your usual medications or supplements on the day of the test. Also, let them know if you have diabetes or other medical conditions. In particular, diabetes can alter your test results and the radioactive tracer can impact your blood sugar. If you are breastfeeding or could be pregnant, tell the staff. These scans can put the baby at risk.

 

Allergies – Let the staff know about any drug or food allergies you have, including any allergic reactions to iodine you may have had in the past.

 

What to avoid – Don’t do any heavy exercise like running, jogging, or weightlifting 24 hours before your exam. Exercise can make your scans less accurate.

 

What to wear – Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You will need to remove any clothing that includes metal because metal during the scan. This includes belts, earrings, shirts with snaps or zippers, bras, and glasses. If your clothing cannot be worn during the scan, you can wear a hospital gown. You will be asked to remove any jewellery, so you may want to leave it at home the day of your exam.

 

Insurance, costs and consent – If you are concerned about the cost of your PET-CT scan, find out what your insurance provider will cover before the scan. Ask how much of the cost you will have to pay. Once you get to the doctor’s office or hospital, the staff will ask you to sign a consent form. This form states that you understand the benefits and risks of the scan and agree to have it.