What happens during the test?
• You should arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
• Before the test, a health care provider will explain the procedure in detail, including
possible complications or side effects. Please take this opportunity to ask any questions
you may have.
• Your test will take place in the Nuclear Cardiology Department. The clinical care area is
under physician supervision.
• You will be given a hospital gown to wear and asked to remove your clothing from the
waist up.
• Lab personnel will gently rub 10 small areas on your chest and place special patches or
electrodes on these areas. These electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph (ECG)
monitor that displays your heart’s electrical activity.
• An intravenous line (IV) will be inserted into a vein in your arm.
• Before you starting the stress medication, lab personnel will perform a resting EKG,
measure your resting heart rate, and take your blood pressure.
• You will be injected with a medication that dilates the coronary arteries, increasing
blood flow, thereby simulating exercise.
• Approximately 20 seconds later, you will be injected with a radioactive tracer that will
allow your heart to be seen under a special imaging machine called a gamma camera.
No symptoms or allergic reaction are possible with the tracer.
• Lab personnel will ask how you are feeling at regular intervals. Please tell them if
you feel chest, arm, or jaw discomfort, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or other
concerning symptoms.
• Lab personnel will watch for any concerning ECG changes on the monitor.
• When you cannot exercise any longer, notify the team, and the treadmill or bike will be
stopped.
• After the test, your heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG will continue to be monitored
until the levels are returning to normal.
• Approximately one hour after injection, you will be placed under the camera for your
“stress” images.
• A specialized physician will review the stress images to determine whether resting
images are needed
• If resting images are needed, you will be injected with another radioactive tracer. You
will be placed under the camera for “resting” images approximately one hour after
injection.
• The IV will be removed from your arm once the test is completed.