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How do I prepare for a Nuclear Stress Test?
Do not eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the test. This includes caffeine as well as decaffeinated beverages.
If you are having a Persantine test you will be asked to avoid caffeinated and decaffeinated products for
24 hours prior to your test. The pictures of your heart are clearer when the stomach is not full. If you are
diabetic or need to eat/drink with your medication please get special instructions from your doctor. If you do
not follow the specific prep your procedure may need to be rescheduled.
- Avoid any strenuous physical activity on the day of the test because you will need to exert yourself
maximally if you are going to be doing a treadmill exercise test.
- Bring busy material. You will have periods of waiting throughout the test so bring a book, newspaper,
knitting, etc. to keep you busy.
- No smoking 4 hours prior to the test. Smoking interferes with the test results.
- Wear a comfortable two-piece outfit and comfortable shoes. A hospital gown may be provided and men may
be asked to remove their shirts. Slacks or shorts are preferred if you are exercising.
- Do not wear oils or lotions before your test. Small sticky patches (electrodes) will need to stick to
your chest.
- Your doctor may ask you to stop taking heart medications on the day of your test. If you have any questions
about your medications ask your doctor. DO NOT DISCONTINUE ANY MEDICATION WITHOUT FIRST TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
What happens during the test?
When you enter the stress testing room, the cardiology tech/nurse will have you sign a consent form and he/she
will make sure you understand the test. An IV will be started in the vein of your arm. The nuclear medicine
tech will put your first injection of radioactive tracer through the IV. You will wait in the waiting room for at
least 45 minutes to let the tracer circulate to your heart.
Once your waiting period is over the nuclear medicine tech will put you under a gamma camera for about 15
minutes. You will lay on your back on a table with your arms above your head. It is important for you to
remain very still while the images are being taken. The camera will move over your chest but will never come
in contact with you during the scan.
Following completion of the scan you will be escorted to a stress testing room. The cardio tech/nurse will
have you lay on a stretcher while he/she prepares you for the stress portion of the exam. A bag of normal
saline will be attached to your IV. The chest will be cleaned with alcohol and a cloth. Ten electrode patches
are placed on your chest and torso. Wires will be attached to the electrodes in order to monitor your heart rate
and EKG. A resting EKG and blood pressure are recorded.
Once the Cardiologist arrives in the room your test will begin.
You will either exercise on a treadmill or receive a pharmacological agent to “exercise” your heart. During
this portion of the test you will receive another injection of the radioactive tracer while your heart is at
stress. You will be monitored after the stress test and then will return to the waiting room for 30 – 90 minutes
to allow time for the tracer to circulate.
After the appropriate wait you will return for another set of images. They will again last 15 minutes but
this time you will be hooked up to 3 electrode patches so that information about how well the left ventricle
of the heart is working can be given to the doctor.
Please note that the entire test including rest and stress could last for up to 4 hours.
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