Cardiac Blood Pool Scan

Ejection Fraction Study, Gated Cardiac Scan, MUGA Scan, Radionuclide Angiography, Scan, Cardiac Blood Pool, Wall Motion Study

How To Prepare

Before having a cardiac blood pool scan, tell your health professional if you:

  • Are allergic to any medicines.
  • Are or might be pregnant.
  • Have recently had any test that uses a radioactive tracer, such as a bone scan or thyroid scan.
  • Have a pacemaker or other metal devices, such as spinal fixation rods, in your chest. These devices may make it difficult to obtain clear pictures of the blood flow through the heart.

You may be asked not to eat or drink for 4 hours before the test. You should not have any caffeine or smoke for 4 to 6 hours before the test.

If testing will include exercise, you should wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

Many medicines may affect the results of this test. Be sure to tell your health professional about all the nonprescription and prescription medicines you take.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information formClick here to view a form.(What is a PDF document?).


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Author: Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Robin Parks, MS
Last Updated: September 13, 2007
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology

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Topic Contents
 Test Overview
 Why It Is Done
Arrow PointerHow To Prepare
 How It Is Done
 How It Feels
 Risks
 Results
 What Affects the Test
 What To Think About
 References
 Credits