Nuclear Treadmill Stress Test Instructions

The Cardiolite administered during a chemical stress test contains a small amount of radioactivity. The amount is comparable to an X-ray, or CAT scan. 

General Instructions: 

Do not eat or drink anything but water 4 (four) hours prior to the test. Diabetic patients may bring juice to drink as needed.

1)      Do not drink caffeine or decaffeinated coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate for twelve (12) hours before the test. 

2)      Bring all medications with you. DO NOT take the following medications for 24 (twenty-four) hours prior to the test:                

            Tenormin (Atenolol)                  Inderal (Propanolol)

            Corgard (Nadolol)                     Toprol XL (Metoprolol)

            Lopressor ( Metoprolol)           Coreg (Carvedilol)

a.      Diabetic Patients with morning appointments between 8:00 am and 11:00 am are to take one-half (1/2) of their normal insulin injection dose. Do not take oral Diabetic medication the morning of the test. 

b.      Diabetic Patients with afternoon appointments between 12:00 and 3:00 pm are to take their entire insulin injection does in the morning with breakfast. Oral Diabetic medication may be taken with breakfast for patients with afternoon appointments. 

If you use an inhaler bring it with you to your appointment and notify the technologist before starting the test. 

3)      If you are pregnant, suspect you may be, or are a nursing mother; please call the office prior to the test date.

4)      Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are suitable for exercise.

About the Test:

1)      Please be prepared to stay approximately 4 (Four) hours.

2)      Before the test you will be asked to sign a consent form. Please let us know if you have any questions about the procedure. 

3)      An Intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into a vein in your arm, to allow for the Cardiolite injection.

4)      You will then be asked to wait one hour, the resting phase, after which you will have a fifteen minute scan. (You may drink water during this wait, or if you are diabetic, you may drink some juice.)

5)      Several electrodes (small sticky patches) will be placed on your chest to obtain an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).

6)      You will then see your doctor for a visit and the treadmill exercise portion of the test. A second dose of Cardiolite will be injected during the exercise phase, and you will visit the scanner for a second time 30 - 60 minutes after the doctor has completed the stress test. After the second scan the IV will be taken out and the test will be complete.

7)      Two-Day stress test patients should follow the same instructions. The only difference is you will be here for only two (2 ) hours the day of the test and will need to come back for the second part of the test (Resting Phase) at a later date. 

8)      Results of the test will be given to your physician in a written form. You will receive a phone call from a nurse informing you of the results. We ask you to call if you have not received notification of your results and it has been a week since your test. 

If you have questions about this procedure, please contact our office.