Your DEXA appointment checklist

Before booking

• Confirm the examination: body composition, diagnostic bone density, or both.
• Ask whether you need a referral and whether arranging it costs extra.
• Confirm the full fee, report inclusions and who explains the results.
• Check the clinic’s cancellation rules and any package conditions.

Before attending

Use the clinic’s instructions for your particular examination.

• Ask about clothing, food, drink, exercise and any supplements or medicines; do not change medicines on your own.
• Tell the clinic if you could be pregnant, have had recent contrast imaging, or have implants that may affect the examination.
• Bring the requested referral and previous reports if you are comparing scans.
• For a repeat scan, ask how to match the earlier scanner, timing and preparation.

During the results conversation

• Which measurements answer the question I came with?
• What do the unfamiliar labels, units and reference groups mean?
• If a number changed, is the change larger than the clinic’s measurement variation?
• Does a flagged finding need discussion with my GP or another practitioner?
• Can I have a copy of my report, and is there a useful reason to repeat the test?

My questions and notes

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Sources and companion guide

Prepared by DEXA Scans as a question prompt, not an individual preparation plan.

RadiologyInfo: DXA examination and preparation

ISCD: official adult positions, including body composition

Read the reviewed DEXA results guide