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How to Prepare for a CT Scan

New Jersey CT Services

Some CT exams may require the use of a contrast material to enhance the visibility of certain tissues and blood vessels. If an oral contrast material is required, you will need to pick up the contrast material from your physician’s office or AMI prior to your appointment day. You will receive instructions on the amount and the times you will need to drink the contrast material. A small percentage of patients will have an allergic reaction to iodinated contrast. Patients should alert their healthcare provider if they have had an allergic reaction to contrast in the past.

Depending on the type of CT exam, you may not be able to eat solid foods prior to the exam. You will be allowed to take your daily medicines with a small amount of water. Please follow up with your healthcare provider regarding specific instructions.

Preparation Pick Up Guidelines and Hours

IF REQUIRED you or a family member can pick up oral prep from one of our offices prior to your appointment date. PLEASE BRING A COPY OF YOUR SCRIPT WITH YOU. Directions will be given to you with the oral prep.

Preparation Pick Up Locations and Hours:

Brick

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Wednesday and Thursday: 5:00PM – 7:30PM

Cape May Court House

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Egg Harbor Township

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Monday-Thursday: 5:00PM – 7:30PM

Galloway

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Wednesday and Thursday: 5:00PM – 7:30PM

Hammonton

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Manahawkin

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Somers Point

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Thursday: 5:00PM – 7:30PM

Toms River (Hooper Ave)

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Toms River (Route 37)

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Tuesday: 5:00PM – 7:30PM

Wall Township

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 3:45PM

Appointment Guidelines

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time and bring the following information with you:

  • Script, Insurance Card and Photo ID

  • Provide Tracking Number, and Referral (if applicable)

  • Co-payment, co-insurance, and/or deductible is due at the time of your appointment. Contact your insurance provider if you have questions about your plan or coverage.

  • This exam may require prior authorization from your insurance provider before we can perform the study.

  • Please bring any prior relevant studies and reports to your appointment.

Glucose monitoring devices (Freestyle Lebre Flash, etc.) must be removed, please plan to remove prior to your exam to avoid damage.

If required, please take the oral contrast as directed.

Drink plenty of water the day prior to your exam.

Do not wear any metal or jewelry to your exam.

Before Your Visit

You will receive an email shortly with important information about your appointment, it will include a link for registration paperwork and procedure instructions, please be on the lookout for that information, we strongly encourage you to complete your paperwork and submit a copy of your script before your appointment.

After your exam, you can access your results online through the AMI Patient Portal.

CT Preparation Instructions:

The following tests do not require any preparation:

  • Extremities

  • Head Without Contrast

  • Kidney Stones

  • Lung Screening

  • Mandible Without Contrast

  • Myelogram

  • Paracentesis

  • Pelvis

  • Sanogram

  • Sinus

  • Spines: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar

The following tests require preparation:

CT Abdomen and Pelvis

  • Do not eat solid foods 4 hours prior to test

  • Pick up "Readi-CAT 2" prep at any of our designed locations

  • Instructions for taking "Readi-CAT 2":

  • Drink 1 full bottle of "Readi-CAT 2" slowly and completely 3 hours before appointment.
  • Drink 2nd full bottle of "Readi-CAT 2" slowly and completely 1 hour before appointment.

CT Chest and Abdomen

  • Do not eat solid foods 4 hours prior to test

  • Pick up "Readi-CAT 2" prep at any of our designed locations

  • Instructions for taking "Readi-CAT 2":

  • Drink 1 full bottle of "Readi-CAT 2" slowly and completely 3 hours before appointment

  • Drink 2nd full bottle of "Readi-CAT 2" slowly and completely 1 hour before appointment

CT Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis

  • Do not eat solid foods 4 hours prior to test

  • Pick up "Readi-CAT 2" prep at any of our locations

  • Instructions for taking "Readi-CAT 2":

  • Drink 1 full bottle of "Readi-CAT 2" slowly and completely 3 hours before appointment

  • Drink 2nd full bottle of "Readi-CAT 2" slowly and completely 1 hour before appointment

CT Chest Only

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam. Patient may void

CT Ankle

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam. Patient may void

CT Bronchoscopy

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam. Patient may void

CT Calf

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam. Patient may void

CT Cardiac Scoring

  • No caffeine for 12 hours prior to your exam

CT Chest With Contrast

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam. Patient may void

CT Clavicle

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam. Patient may void

CT Coronary CTA

  • No food 4 hours prior to your exam

  • Drink 16 oz of water 1 hour prior to your exam (You may void your bladder)

  • Drink plenty of water the day prior to your exam

  • No caffeine 12 hours prior to your exam

  • All erectile dysfunction medications must be stopped 48 hours prior to your exam

  • Exam may take 1-3 hours

CT Cystogram

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Elbow

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Enterography

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Facial Bones

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Femur

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Foot

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Forearm

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Hand

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Head With and Without Contrast

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Heart Structure Morphology

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

  • No caffeine 12 hours prior to your exam

CT Hip

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Humerus

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Mandible With Contrast

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Maxilla

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Neck

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Orbit

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Sacroiliac Joint

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Shoulder

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Sinus With Contrast

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Sternoclavicular

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Sternum

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Temp Mandibular

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Thigh

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Tibular/Fibular With Contrast

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Urogram

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam. Patient may void.

CT Venogram

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Wrist With Contrast

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CT Virtual Colonoscopy

Please contact a CT technologist for instructions - 609-652-7349

CTA Abdomen

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Abdomen and Pelvis

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Chest and Abdomen

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Chest Aorta

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Chest PE

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Head

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Head and Neck

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Lower Extremities

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Neck

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Pelvis

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Subclavian Thoracic

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam

CTA Upper Extremity

  • No solid food 4 hours before exam

  • Drink 16 ounces of water one hour prior to exam