Preparing for a coronary calcium scan takes very little. There are no needles, no contrast dye and no recovery time, and the scan itself takes less than 15 minutes. Your main jobs are to schedule it at the imaging center, follow that center's instructions on the day, and understand what the result can and cannot tell you.
In Cardio Res-Q, the calcium scan is part of the Enhanced Assessment ($999). It is not part of the Comprehensive Assessment ($775). The scan is done at an outside imaging facility, not in our office, and is typically a separate self-pay charge of $100 to $200.
Key takeaways
- A calcium scan is a quick, low-dose CT with no injection and no dye, so there is little to prepare.
- Your provider orders the scan and you book it yourself at a local imaging center.
- The imaging center's own instructions on caffeine, food and clothing come first.
- The scan cannot see plaque that has not calcified, and it is not a test for chest pain.
- Expect a separate imaging fee, usually $100 to $200, on top of the Enhanced Assessment.
How the scan gets ordered and scheduled
As part of the Enhanced Assessment, your provider orders the study. The clinic does not keep a list of imaging centers, so you find a local one and schedule the scan at a time that suits you.
Ask the imaging facility how far ahead it books and how its fee is paid. Patients have reported self-pay fees of $100 to $200, paid in addition to the $999, but that range is not a quote. Our cost guide covers how the pieces add up.
What to do before the scan
The imaging center sets the rules for its own scanner, so read whatever it sends you and follow that first. These general points apply at most centers:
- Ask about caffeine and nicotine. Many centers ask you to skip both beforehand. A slower, steadier heartbeat gives a sharper picture.
- Ask about food. A calcium scan uses no contrast dye, and centers often do not require fasting for it. Confirm with yours. Keep in mind that your Cardio Res-Q blood draw does need a fast of 10 to 12 hours, so if both fall on the same morning, plan around the labs.
- Take your medications as usual unless your prescriber or the imaging center tells you otherwise.
- Dress simply. Metal over the chest can interfere with the images. Expect to remove necklaces and any clothing with metal, and you may be given a gown.
- Tell the staff if you are or might be pregnant. The scan uses X-rays.
- Bring what the center asks for. That usually means identification and the order, if you were handed a copy.
What happens at the imaging center
The visit is short and uneventful for most people. A typical scan goes like this:
- You lie on your back on a table that slides into a short, open, ring-shaped scanner.
- A technologist places a few sticky patches on your chest. They track your heartbeat so the scanner can take its pictures between beats.
- You are asked to hold your breath for a few seconds while the images are taken.
- The table slides out and you are done.
There are no injections and no contrast dye. The scan is completed in under 15 minutes, with no recovery time, so you can go straight back to your day.
Radiation, in plain terms
A calcium score is a low-dose CT scan. Professional imaging guidance says the effective dose from a calcium scan should average 1.0 to 1.5 millisieverts.1 That is a small dose, but it is not zero, and it is one reason the scan is not repeated often.
Calcium deposits change slowly, and our clinic treats a calcium score as a baseline that keeps its value for several years. Our guide to how often to repeat heart tests explains the intervals for each test.
What the result can and cannot tell you
The report gives a single number, the calcium score, which reflects how much calcified plaque sits in the arteries of your heart. Many reports also give a percentile for your age and sex. The score bands and what they mean are covered in our calcium score guide, so we will not repeat them here.
Two limits are worth knowing before you go.
First, the scan has a blind spot. It detects calcified plaque only, so newer plaque that has not hardened does not show up on it.2 A score of zero is reassuring. It is not proof that your arteries are clear.
Second, the score informs a decision. It does not make one. Under the 2018 US cholesterol guideline, a score of 100 or higher, or one at or above the 75th percentile, pointed toward statin treatment after a discussion between patient and clinician.3 Your own next step depends on the rest of your results and on that conversation.
How long the report takes and how it reaches you depend on the imaging facility, so check with it. Dr. Varano reviews your score with you alongside your labs and CIMT ultrasound at your consult.
Who should not book a calcium scan this way
- Anyone with symptoms. A calcium scan is a screening tool for people who feel well. Chest pain, pressure, shortness of breath or fainting need medical attention now, not a screening appointment. Call 911.
- Anyone who is or may be pregnant.
- People with known coronary disease, a stent or bypass surgery. Ask your cardiologist whether a calcium score would add anything to what is already known.
- People with a recent calcium score. Calcium scores done elsewhere are accepted, so bring the report. You still start with a first-time assessment.
How to book the assessment that includes the scan
Go to the Cardio Res-Q program page, select the Enhanced Assessment ($999) and pay online. The Comprehensive Assessment ($775) includes the same clinical evaluation and labs without the imaging. Both are direct-pay and are not billed to insurance. Patients are welcome to try an HSA or FSA card, but the clinic cannot confirm it will be accepted, and it does not provide insurance reimbursement forms.
If you are still deciding between the two, contact our team with your questions.
Are You a Candidate for Cardio Res-Q?
Three quick questions about the risk factors we screen for. Your answers stay between you and the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before a calcium scan?
Often not, because the scan uses no contrast dye, but the imaging center decides. Follow its instructions. The 10 to 12 hour fast we ask for applies to your blood draw, not to the scan.
Does the scan hurt?
No. There are no needles and nothing is injected. You lie still and hold your breath for a few seconds.
Can I drive myself home afterward?
The scan involves no sedation, no dye and no recovery time, so most people return to normal activity right away. If the imaging center gives you different instructions, follow those.
Will my insurance pay for the scan?
The calcium score is typically a self-pay study of $100 to $200 at the outside imaging center, and the Enhanced Assessment itself is direct-pay. Ask the imaging center and your plan if you want to check your own coverage.
Related reading
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Decisions about testing and medication should be made with your clinician. If you have chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack, call 911.
