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Imaging & Radiology
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Imaging & Radiology

Exam Preparations

These are general guidelines to prepare for most imaging procedures. Your primary care provider or referring provider may provide you specific exam prep based on your medical history/care and for children.

Buy a 10 oz. bottle of Citrate of Magnesia (or MiraLAX), 3 Dulcolax tablets. and a Fleet Enema Kit from a drug store.

The day before your appointment, follow these instructions:
Breakfast: Normal diet
Lunch: Clear liquid diet - clear broth, bouillon, cranberry, apple, grape juice, gelatin or plain Jell-O, coffee or tea (without cream or milk), popsicles, ginger ale, 7-Up & water
1pm: Drink one full glass or more of water or above liquids.
3pm: Same as above.
5pm: Dinner - SAME AS LUNCH
6pm: Drink 10 oz. bottle of Citrate of Magnesia or MiraLAX, cold or with ice.
7pm: Drink one full glass or more of water or above liquids. 
8pm: Take 3 Ducolax tablets with one full glass of water.
9pm: Drink one full glass of water or more of clear liquids.
10pm: Drink one full glass of water or more of clear liquids.

The day of your appointment, follow these instructions:

Nothing to eat or drink 4 hours before your scheduled appointment.
2 hours before your appointment, use the Fleet Enema.

Medications can be taken 2-4 hours before your appointment.

Nothing by mouth 2 hours prior to the study, except prescribed medication. Some studies require oral, rectal, or IV contrast material.

For a CT Virtual Colonography, an imaging representative will contact you prior to the appointment with exam prep instructions.

You may be asked to remove deodorants, powders, lotions, or perfumes that may interfere with the quality of the breast image. Cleansing wipes will be provided.

MRI Abdomen and MRI Pelvis: Nothing to eat or drink 4 hours before your scheduled appointment

MRI Cardiac: Nothing to eat or drink 2 hours before your scheduled appointment

All others: No prep

An imaging representative will call you with prep instructions. For questions, please call (585) 922-3891.

Nothing by mouth after 10pm the night before the study, except prescribed medications taken with small amount of water.

Medications may be taken 1 hour before morning or afternoon appointment.

  • Pelvic or obstetrical – Drink 32oz of fluid 1 hour prior to the exam (finishing it within 10-15 minutes) and hold.
  • Abdomen (such as liver, gallbladder, pancreas, aorta, or spleen) – Nothing by mouth after midnight the evening prior to study except prescribed medications. Afternoon appointment: Nothing to eat or drink 6 hours prior to study.
  • Renal/Retroperitoneal Ultrasound – Drink 12 oz of fluid one hour prior to the exam (finishing it within 10-15 minutes) and hold.
  • Renal Doppler / Abdominal Doppler – Nothing to eat or drink 8 hours prior to the appointment.
  • Biopsy/ Paracentesis/ Thoracentesis – Please call for instructions: (585) 922-9729

Nothing by mouth after midnight the night before the study, except prescribed medications taken with small amount of water.