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- What is the test?
- How do I prepare for the test?
- What happens when the test is performed?
- What risks are there from the test?
- Must I do anything special after the test is over?
- How long is it before the result of the test is known?
What is the test?
A radionuclide scan of the kidneys shows a picture of your kidneys while they are at work making urine. The test is done in the nuclear medicine area of the radiology (x-ray) department, where doctors are specially trained to work with medicines that are radioactive. You will receive a small amount of a radioactive medicine that collects inside the kidneys. Pictures can then be taken using a radioactivity detector, and your kidneys will show up on the images. This test can be useful to evaluate infection, blockages, injury to the kidneys, and some causes of high blood pressure.
How do I prepare for the test?
Let your doctor know if you could be pregnant or if you are breast-feeding a baby. The medicine used in this test would expose your baby to radiation.
What happens when the test is performed?
You have an IV (intravenous) line placed into a vein. A slightly radioactive version of a substance called sodium pertechnetate is injected through the IV. This substance helps your kidneys and urine show up on pictures.
A camera that is specially designed to detect radioactivity is placed against your back or abdomen. A number of pictures are taken over time. The camera itself does not expose you to any additional radiation, so the number of pictures is not harmful in any way. The test is usually completed within an hour.
What risks are there from the test?
Many people worry when they hear that the medicine used in this test is slightly radioactive. In truth, this test exposes you to a very small amount of radiation-no greater than that of routine xrays.
Must I do anything special after the test is over?
You do not need to do anything special after this test. The last traces of the radioactive medicine are cleared from your body within a few hours or at most within a day or two. You can interact with other people normally after the test; they will not be at risk for any radiation exposure by being close to you.
How long is it before the result of the test is known?
The pictures take an hour or more to be developed, and additional time is required for a radiologist to analyze the pictures for information about your kidneys. Your doctor will generally receive a report within a day or two.
