Heart Perfusion Test (MIBI scan)

​A heart perfusion test (MIBI scan) allows us to assess the function and blood flow of your heart at rest or during exercise by injecting a tracer, followed by taking images of the heart using a special camera (gamma cameras). This test helps the doctor to decide if the patient needs further treatment or surgery for his heart condition.

• Stress scan
• This will take up to 3 hours including waiting time.
  
  You will be required to exercise on the treadmill during which a small dose of radioactive tracer is injected through the vein on your hand.
  
  If you cannot exercise, the test can still be done. The doctor will inject a special medication to stress your heart while you walk slowly on the treadmill or lie down on a couch.
  
  After the stress test, you need to wait ½ hour to 2 hours before the test is done. The doctor will review the stress scan and decide whether you require a rest scan which could be done on the same day or on a separate day.
  
• Rest scan on the same day
• This will take up to 3 hours including waiting time.
  
  The same day rest scan is reserved for patients who have a doctor appointment which is less than a week from the MIBI scan appointment. Patients who have the MIBI scan appointment in the afternoon will be required to have the rest scan done on another day.
  
  The rest scan will start 3 hours after the injection during the stress test. You can have your meal before the scan. A small dose of radioactive tracer will be injected through the vein on your hand and the scan will be done about 1 hour after the injection. Some patients may be required to wait more than 1 hour to allow the tracer to completely perfuse (blood to flow through the artery to) the heart.

• Rest scan on a separate day
• This will take up to 3 hours including waiting time
  
  You will come another day to have your rest scan done. There is no fasting or any diet restriction for this scan. No payment is required if you have already paid when you come for the stress scan. The procedure is similar to the rest scan on the same day.