What is it?

This test shows heart blood flow to detect angina, heart attack, and heart function.

What do I need to do?

Please bring a valid OHIP Card to your appointment. If you do not have an OHIP Card, please bring another form of government issued ID such as (Drivers License, Passport, or another provincial health card). Please also bring a signed requisition from your physician and arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to check in. The receptionist will verify your information and admit you for the procedure.

There are no special preparations for this procedure.

Have a light snack or juice before your test. Don’t have any tea, coffee, chocolate or cola 12 hours before the test (this includes de-caffeinated products). Wear comfortable shoes and clothing for exercise studies and bring a list of all your current medications.

What can I expect on the day of the test?

Arrive 15 minutes early on the day of your test to allow our reception team time to check you in for your procedure. Your technologist will then bring you into the nuclear medicine suite to conduct a brief patient interview to determine the specifics about the reason for your visit. After that brief interview, your technologist will administer a small amount of radioactive tracer and then image your heart in approximately 45 minutes. This constitutes the resting portion of your test.

After your initial image, your technologist will prepare you for an exercise stress test. Your blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored as you walk on a treadmill. At the height of your exercise, you will be given an injection of the same tracer to capture the activity of your heart while you exercise. In approximately 45 minutes you will be imaged again on the same gamma camera as your first picture. This constitutes the stress portion of your test.

How long will it take?

This test takes approximately 4 hours to complete.

How long will it take for the results to get to my family physician?

Your results will be ready within 48 hours of the date of your test.

For more information about the cardiac perfusion study, please email info@corcare.net or call 416.284.4744 ext 2 to speak to one of our technologists.