How to Prepare for Your Ultrasound

It is very important to follow these instructions for the test to be performed safely and properly and to have accurate results. If you are unsure about any part of this please contact your referring doctor or your primary care physician.

Please be advised: If you come to your appointment without properly preparing the technologist will not be able to perform the test and your appointment will have to be rescheduled.

If you are scheduled for:

Ultrasound Abdomen / RUQ (Right Upper Quadrant of the Abdomen) / Gallbladder / Liver / Pancreas / Spleen / Abdominal Aorta / Renal Artery
  • You must schedule your appointment for the morning (before noon).
  • This is a fasting study and fasting while you are awake causes gas buildup in the digestive tract which can cause an inadequate ultrasound.
  • You must not eat, smoke, chew gum or drink starting at midnight.
  • You may take any medication with a small amount of water.
  • If you are diabetic and your blood sugar drops you may have a little bit of orange juice or a tea spoon of honey.
  • If for some reason your appointment can only be scheduled for the afternoon your fasting should start 6 to 8 hours prior to your exam.
Ultrasound Bladder / Fetal or OB in the 1st trimester / Pelvic / Prostate
  • You must drink 4 to 6 glasses of water (minimum 32 oz or 1 liter) and finish drinking 1 hour before your appointment.
  • You must not go to the bathroom after you start drinking, so when you arrive at our facility your bladder is full.
  • You must arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to register so that you do not have to wait with a full bladder.
  • If you know that you have an unusually weak bladder you may opt to come in 1½ hours before your exam and drink in our waiting room so that the technologist can take you as soon as your bladder fills.
Ultrasound Fetal or OB in the 2nd or 3rd trimester
  • You must drink 2 to 4 glasses of water (minimum 16 oz or ½ liter) and finish drinking 1 hour before your appointment.
  • You must not go to the bathroom after you start drinking, so when you arrive at our facility your bladder is full.
  • You must arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to register so that you do not have to wait with a full bladder.
  • If you know that you have an unusually weak bladder you may opt to come in 1½ hours before your exam and drink in our waiting room so that the technologist can take you as soon as your bladder fills.