Preparation may vary from clinic to clinic and you will be advised on the specifics at the time of booking.  However, as a general guide you may be asked to:

• Stop certain medications that effect gastric movement (please discuss this when booking your scan).
• Fast for six hours before your scan (four hours if diabetic). 
• Remove any metal objects eg. belts and jewellery - underwear and zips are ok.
• If you are breast feeding there is no need to interrupt the feeds. 
• If you are pregnant please discuss this with the Nuclear Medicine Physician before proceeding.

• On arrival you will be asked to eat a small meal, consisting of one egg (scrambled) on a piece of toast. You will be asked to eat this within 5 minutes. A small amount of radioactive agent is added to the egg which allows us to track the movement of food through the stomach (there are no side effects from this radioactivity).
•  Once you have finished the meal imaging will commence immediately. • A Nuclear Medicine technician we take you into the room and will assist you to lie down on the gamma camera bed and the camera will move in very close over your abdomen - it will not touch you and there are no sounds from the machine. 
• You will then be imaged every hour for four hours - please feel free to bring a book or activity to use between the images.
• Although you are allowed to leave the department, you cannot eat or drink until the study is over. Most people choose to stay in the waiting room.

* If you have any allergies please let staff know when booking your scan and an alternative meal can be arranged.

The images will be available online for your specialist and GP. Your doctor will receive a written report on your test as soon as is practicable.

It is very important that you discuss the results with the doctor who referred you so they can explain what the results mean for you. If you have any concerns following the procedure please contact your referring physician or the radiology department.