Do not eat or drink for 4 hours prior to your exam time, except a sip of water for your regular medications. Arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes before your exam. You will receive an oral contrast drink for the procedure to improve the quality of the images.

Because the MRI system uses a very powerful magnet, there are many items that cannot be brought into the exam room. Although a private locker will be provided, it is best to leave certain items at home or with someone during your MRI exam, including:

• Cell phones, pagers, iPads, or any other electronic device.
• Credit cards, driver’s license, and any other card with a magnetic strip.
• Loose change.
• Bobby pins, safety pins, or any other item with metallic pieces.
• Any loose metallic items on clothing or body.
• Glasses, hearing aids, and items such as TENS Units will not be able to go into the exam room, but can be worn until just before entering the MRI room.

Wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes, such as a sweatsuit. Be sure there are no metal zippers, snaps, or buckles. Do not wear earrings, hairpins, or jewelry. Do not apply eye shadow or mascara.

This exam may not be performed if you have a cardiac pacemaker, cerebral aneurysm clips, or a metallic hearing implant. If you are a sheet metal worker or have ever had metal fragments in your eye(s), an orbit x-ray will be taken prior to your MRI exam.

After checking in, you will be given an oral contrast to drink. You will then be escorted to a changing room, where you will then meet the registered MRI technologist who will be performing your exam. The technologist will review the screening questionnaire and the procedure with you, answering any questions you may have.

When you are ready, you will be asked to lie down on the cushioned MRI table. Many MRI exams require the use of a coil, which is placed on or around the body part being scanned. The coil is a lightweight device that acts as an antenna to receive the radio frequency signal coming out of your body. That data is then transmitted to a computer, which will then generate the images.

If it has been determined that your study also requires the use of an IV contrast material (or dye), the technologist or nurse will perform the injection and administer the iodine-free contrast. Please let the staff know if you have any allergies.

The table will slowly move into position within the large doughnut-shaped magnet. We provide you with noise-canceling headphones and your choice of music, as you will hear a series of loud thumping noises as the scan is performed. We ask that you keep very still to help ensure that the images come out clear. Throughout the entire exam, you will be able to communicate with the technologist through an intercom. The actual scan can take anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the body part being scanned.