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Hida Biliary Scan

This scan evaluates your biliary system’s function. It is used to assess the function of your gallbladder or to evaluate issues post-gallbladder-removal surgery (cholecystectomy).

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY EXAM?

  • Please notify your technologist if there is a chance you may be pregnant, or if you are nursing. If you are pregnant, the exam will need to be postponed. If you are uncertain, a blood test will be required to confirm you are not pregnant prior to starting the exam. This may delay or postpone your appointment if not obtained in advance. If you are nursing, you will be given further instructions regarding breastfeeding.
  • Please ensure you have had NO barium studies within the week prior to your test.
  • Don’t eat, drink, smoke, or chew anything six hours prior to your exam.
  • If you are diabetic, please do not eat or drink four hours before your exam.
  • Don’t take any medication four hours before your exam.
  • This test will take 2-3 hours, so wear comfortable clothing free of large metal buttons.
  • Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to allow enough time to check in with reception.
  • Please let your technologist know if you are claustrophobic prior to the start of the exam.
  • Bring photo identification, your provincial health card, and your requisition.
  • Please do not bring children who require supervision.
  • If you are on any of the following medications, please let your technologist know:
    • Atropine
    • Benzodiazepines (e.g., Lorazepam, Diazepam)
    • Calcium-Channel Blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
    • Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists (e.g., Ranitidine)
    • Indomethacin
    • Octreotide
    • Progesterone
    • Theophylline

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY EXAM?

  • You will be asked to empty your bladder before the exam begins and then lie on your back on the imaging bed.
  • Your technologist will position the gamma camera over your abdominal area and inject a radioactive material (radiopharmaceutical) into a vein in your arm.
  • This radiopharmaceutical is taken up by the liver and transported to the biliary system and gallbladder.
  • Imaging will begin immediately after your injection and continue for 60 minutes.
  • While the images are being acquired, try to hold as still as you can. You may breathe normally, but movement may blur the images, making them more difficult to interpret. Please let your technologist know if you are not comfortably positioned on the bed.
  • The scan is painless, and, if necessary, you will be able to talk to your technologist during the procedure.
  • If the gallbladder has filled up with the radiopharmaceutical within 60 minutes, you will be asked to drink Ensure plus. This will encourage your gallbladder to contract.
  • You will drink the Ensure plus, wait 15 minutes, and then images will be taken for 60 minutes.
  • You will be required to stay in the clinic for the duration of the study, which will take approximately 2-3 hours.
  • If you’ve had your gallbladder surgically removed (a cholecystectomy), the technique for the study will be slightly different. This study will take approximately one-and-a-half hours.

POST-EXAM INSTRUCTIONS

The radiopharmaceutical is excreted from the body through your urine. Keeping hydrated and voiding frequently will help eliminate it from your body.

WHEN WILL I GET MY RESULTS?

We do our best to have the specialized nuclear medicine physician interpret the data and forward the results to your doctor by the next business day. Please consult with your doctor regarding your results and any follow up exams or questions.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

This exam is covered under your Alberta Health Care Plan. It is not currently offered at our Saskatchewan clinics.

PLEASE NOTE:

Please bring the following to your appointment: a valid government-issued ID, your provincial health card, and your exam requisition (if you have received one).

FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

Please ensure that you bring your requisition with you to your appointment.

DURATION

2-3 hours

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Online Appointment Request

Our Culture

We foster a supportive and collaborative culture designed to encourage positive patient experiences and build strong working relationships across the organization:

  • We recognize each other for our contributions – big and small.
  • We focus on teamwork and personal accountability to achieve our goals.
  • When we commit to deadlines, we complete the work as promised, by when we promised. If we realize we can’t keep our commitments, we collaborate to find new deadlines well in advance of the original ones.
  • We feel safe to speak up responsibly. That means we freely share what’s on our minds in a way that is respectful and supports the success of the organization.
  • We commit to our patients and their needs. We show up each day ready to live our vision, mission, and values.
  • We challenge each other to grow and develop our skills and we support each other to do so.
  • Above all, we go the extra mile to support our patients and colleagues. 

Our Values.

Our core values shape the way we work with patients, partners, and fellow employees. And, more than anything else, they’re what set Mayfair apart. In everything we do, this is what we strive for:

EXCELLENCE

We share a commitment to high quality and excellence in all that we do. This commitment calls on all of us to achieve the very best of our capabilities and exceed our own expectations.

CURIOSITY

We innovate in everything, from services to processes. We believe meaningful change and effective problem solving come only by looking at challenges and opportunities from new angles and by exercising our creativity and curiosity.

PASSION

We show pride, enthusiasm, and dedication in everything that we do. We are committed to producing and delivering high-quality results and services. We are passionate about our industry and about our company, services, partners, and patients.

COLLABORATION

Our team is supportive of each other’s efforts; we are loyal to one another; and we care for one another both personally and professionally. We promote and support a diverse, yet unified, team. We work together to meet our common goals across Mayfair clinics, locations, and geographies. Only through collaboration on ideas, technologies, and talents can we achieve our mission and vision.

SERVICE

We take pride in delivering exceptional service every day. We listen to every request with an open mind, always looking for opportunities to go above and beyond to create memorable, personalized experiences. We take responsibility to answer our referrers’ and patients’ requests and respect their time by always responding with a sense of urgency.

Start with us.

Start a career with Mayfair Diagnostics — one of Western Canada’s leading medical imaging teams.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, we’ve been helping people f ind clarity for their health for over 100 years. At our clinics in Calgary and area, Regina, and Saskatoon, our team of radiologists, technologists, and support staff work in a truly integrated way to provide exceptional experiences for our patients. Joining our team is more than a job. It’s an investment in your future — a plan for success.

OUR PEOPLE

Our people share our quest to make a difference in our patient’s lives. We’re a team of professionals, disciplined in our skills and compassionate with our patients, providing the care and attention they need. At our core, we are a trusted partner in our patients’ health care journey. Our patients, physicians, and other health care providers rely on us for quality imaging to help manage their patient’s health care decisions with certainty. But our business is about more than just imaging. It’s about building lasting relationships and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we meet.

OUR VISION

A world in which every person has clarity about their health. We push the boundaries of what is possible and embrace change as an opportunity. We strive to be thought leaders and encourage creativity by providing a safe place for calculated risk taking. We learn from our mistakes. We share best practices across our operations and are recognized by our peers for our work. We engage the best to help propel us forward in achieving our goals.