HIDA Scan Exam Prep
Find out when you book
HIDA Scan Locations
Find out when you book
Medically reviewed by Dr. Eric Lenza, MDCM, MSc, FRCPC
What is a HIDA (Hepatobiliary Scan)?
A HIDA scan is a nuclear medicine test that checks how your gallbladder and bile ducts are working. Your healthcare practitioner might send you for a HIDA scan if you have pain in your upper abdomen.
What does a gallbladder do?
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac underneath your liver. It stores a substance produced by the liver, called bile. Bile is an important part of your digestive system. It’s a thick fluid that helps break down fats in food.
How does my gallbladder work?
Bile travels from your liver through bile ducts. It sits in your gallbladder until needed for digestion. When you eat, your gallbladder contracts, or squeezes. Bile is released into your intestine to break down food.
A HIDA scan can assess:
- Gallbladder function and health
- Blocked bile ducts
- Leaking bile ducts
How does a HIDA scan work?
A small amount of radioactive material (radioisotope) is used. The radioisotope is combined with a substance that is absorbed by your liver cells. Once injected, the radiotracer will follow the same path as bile produced by your body. Gamma cameras detect the radiation, and a computer uses the information to produce images.
How do I prepare for a HIDA scan?
Our team will provide complete details at the time of booking; however, you will have to avoid eating, drinking, or taking certain medications before your exam. More specifically:
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight
- Avoid certain medications until after the exam
What to Expect During a HIDA Scan
-
- The entire appointment will take about 2.5 hours.
- You’ll lie on your back on the scanner bed.
- The radiotracer will be injected into your arm.
- The cameras will move around your upper body and take a series of images.
- Pictures are taken every five minutes to track the flow of bile. This part of the exam takes about an hour.
- You’ll drink a nutritional supplement (provided by the clinic), then you’re free to leave for an hour.
- When you return, we’ll take more images for 10 minutes.