Do You Get Blood Work Before Scans?

Hi DivineMrsM -  I have never had lab work done on the day I get scans (just had bone scan and ct scans yesterday - no labs drawn) and I've been getting scans at least every 4 months for 3 years.  However - since I am getting labs drawn at least once a month for the past 3 years (and more frequently since being on a clinical trial) they could refer to those results to determine if it was ok to do the scans??  I do always get blood work done before the zometa infusion.  They always check liver and kidney function before the infusion.  

Ms Divine, I think I can answer this question since I am a CT tech. The protocol for lab work prior to a scan is not determined by your Dr. It is actually set by the radiologist that reads the scans at the facility. Each facility decides their own protocols. For a long time where I worked required BUN and Creat, for anyone over 55. Then it was dropped to 50. The CT department requires it but the order has to come from your Dr. So if you were in the age requirement and showed up for a scan without labs being done, we would stop, call your Dr, have them put a order in, send you down to the lab. Typically if you have had labs within 30 days, they can use them. The older you get, the more at risk everyone is for the renal functions to decrease. They just want to make sure they are working well enough to filter that contrast back out of your body quickly. Hope that helps.

Divine - I get blood drawn every month and always before pet scan. My mo has been doing it for 5years. I get pet scans every 3 months and assumed every one did. We went through a period where they would only do ct and bone scans, but then my mo pointed out my metasis was found in a rare place and he thought the pet scan would show first if it happened again. I knew they always carefully check liver and kidney functions before scan.

C