Laboratory tests

A small number of nuclear medicine tests are carried out in vitro. That means the radiactive tracer is given to the patient by mouth or by intra-venous injection and then its passage through the body is measured by a series of breath or blood samples over the following hours.

GFR|

This test looks at the overall function of the kidneys, it is particularly useful to track changes in renal function over a period of years or during long term drug therapy. It is an easy test that can be carried out on children| and adults|.

Blood volume|

This test measures the total amount of red blood cells in the body.

SeHCAT|

This test measures how the body absorbs bile salts as part of the investigation of diarrhoea type symptoms.

Urea breath test|

This test can detect the presence of certain bacteria in the stomach.

White cell scan|

This test looks for areas of infection or inflammation in the body.