Cardiolite Stress Test

Your doctor has ordered a stress test with Cardiolite enhancement. Cardiolite is a radioactive tracer that is used to assess the blood flow to your heart muscle as well as the strength of the heart muscle. This information, in combination with your EKG portion of your stress test, will assist your doctor in better determining a course of treatment.

Upon arrival you will register at check in. A certified nuclear medicine technologist will then prepare you for the test. An IV will be started and you will be given a small dose of Cardiolite. There is a delay of ½ to 1 hour before you are scanned to allow the tracer to be absorbed. Then you will lie on the imaging table for approximately 15 minutes while the camera takes pictures around your chest.

After the first set of pictures, you will be prepped for the stress test portion of the exam. If your doctor has ordered or you are unable to walk on the treadmill, you will be given medicine (Dobutamine or Adenosine) so that pictures can be taken of your heart at stress.

Another set of pictures will begin approximately 30 to 45 minutes after your stress test. This will take approximately 15 minutes.

Prep Instructions

DO NOT EAT 4 HOURS PRIOR to the test. You may have water or juice.
ABSOLUTELY NO CAFFEINE 12 HOURS BEFORE THE TEST. This includes coffee, tea, sodas, decaf drinks and chocolate. You may have water, milk, or juice.
NO TOBACCO PRODUCTS 8 HOURS PRIOR to the test.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing and rubber-soled walking shoes.
HOLD Beta Blocker (see list below) 24 hours prior to EXERCISE stress testing, unless otherwise instructed by your physician. Bring beta blocker with you to take after testing. Take all other prescribed medications as you normally would.
- Beta Blockers include (brand/generic):
  - Atenolol/ Tenormin
  - Betapace/ Sotalol
  - Inderal/ Propranolol
  - Blocadren/ Timolol
  - Metoprolol/Lopressor/Toprol
  - Bystolic/ Nebivolol
  - Corgard/ Nadolol
  - Coreg/Carvedilol
  - Zebeta/ Bisoprolol
  - Trandate/ Labetalol

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact us at 540-662-0306.