What is a Red Cell Mass Study?
A red cell mass study is performed to see if the patient has too many red cells. This is a blood test, and no imaging is done.
What should I do to prepare for my study?
There is no special preparation for this study.
What will happen during a Red Cell Mass Study and how will I get my results?
The test will take 90 minutes. An intravenous line will be placed in the patient’s arm. Blood is drawn and the patient returns to the waiting room for 30 to 40 minutes. During this time the blood is labeled with a radioactive tracer. The patient returns to the blood drawing room and the labeled blood is injected through the intravenous line. Blood is drawn 15 and 30 minutes later, and the study is completed.
The physician who interprets the scan will send a report to your physician, who will then share the results with you.
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