Basic 'Peace of Mind' Full-Day Program

Fasting for 9 to 12 hours (no food or drink except plain water) is often requested, so the test is often done in the morning.

Mention when booking: Confirm with the center whether your test needs fasting; if you take insulin or other diabetes medicine, ask the prescribing doctor how to manage it while fasting.

Fasting for 9 to 12 hours (no food or drink except plain water) is often requested.

Mention when booking: Confirm with the center whether your test needs fasting; if you take insulin or other diabetes medicine, ask the prescribing doctor how to manage it while fasting.

Usually needs at least 8 hours without food or drink except water beforehand.

Mention when booking: If you take insulin or other diabetes medicine, ask the prescribing doctor how to manage it while fasting, and mention it to the center.

Guaiac-based kits usually ask you to avoid red meat, NSAIDs and more than 250mg of vitamin C for a few days beforehand; FIT kits usually need no diet change.

Mention when booking: Tell the center which kit you were given, and ask the prescribing doctor before stopping aspirin taken for the heart.

Usually needs no special preparation; several samples on different days are often requested, since parasites don't show up daily. The stool shouldn't mix with urine, toilet paper or toilet water.

Mention when booking: Ask how and when to return the samples, especially if you are collecting over several days.

Usually needs a clean-catch (midstream) sample; some tests instead ask you to collect all urine passed over 24 hours.

Mention when booking: Ask which specific urine test your provider ordered, since collection instructions vary by test.

Usually needs a few hours without food, and no caffeine for longer beforehand; wear comfortable clothing and walking or running shoes.

Mention when booking: Ask the prescribing doctor before changing any heart medicine before the test; mention asthma and bring an inhaler if you use one.

Afterwards: You are usually monitored for 10 to 15 minutes afterward until your heart rate returns to normal.

Usually asks for no smoking for 24 hours, no heavy meals for at least 2 hours, and no alcohol for at least 4 hours beforehand; wear loose clothing.

Mention when booking: Mention a recent heart attack, stroke or surgery, a chest infection, heart problems or uncontrolled blood pressure; ask whether to bring or hold your usual inhaler.

Usually needs no fasting; you remove jewelry, metal objects and sometimes clothing above the waist for a hospital gown.

Mention when booking: Tell the center if you are, or might be, pregnant.

Usually needs about 6 hours without food beforehand; clear fluids other than milk or fizzy drinks are commonly still allowed. Loose, comfortable clothing is easiest.

Mention when booking: Mention if you have type 1 diabetes, so the center can offer an early appointment time.

For a transabdominal scan, drinking water beforehand to fill the bladder is common; for a transvaginal scan, an empty bladder is usual instead.

Mention when booking: Tell the center which type of scan you expect, and mention if you are, or might be, pregnant.

Usually needs little or no preparation; an enema and antibiotics are mainly for a planned biopsy. A scan through the lower belly instead may need a full bladder.

Mention when booking: Mention aspirin or other blood thinners; if a biopsy is planned, the center may ask about pausing them, so ask the prescribing doctor before changing any medicine.

Usually needs no special preparation; if combined with a Pap test, avoiding sex, douching and vaginal products for 2 days beforehand is common.

Mention when booking: Tell the center if you are menstruating or had recent intercourse; the test can usually still be done.

Afterwards: Light spotting afterward is common and usually stops within a few hours.

Usually asks that you avoid intercourse, douching and tampons for 24 hours beforehand, and avoid scheduling during your period if possible.

Mention when booking: Tell the center if you are having unexpected bleeding, think you might be pregnant, or have had an abnormal Pap or positive HPV test before.

Afterwards: Light bleeding or spotting afterward is common and usually stops within a few hours.

Usually asks that you skip calcium supplements for 24 hours beforehand. Avoid clothing with metal zippers or buttons, and remove jewelry.

Mention when booking: Mention any recent barium exam or CT/nuclear-medicine contrast, and whether pregnancy is possible.

Usually needs no special preparation; expect to listen for tones or words through headphones, and sometimes a small probe checks how the eardrum moves.