CT Spine

Planning ahead:

• You may need to have blood drawn before this exam.
• For a routine CT spine, no IV contrast is needed. However, in some cases, your physician will request IV contrast be administered.
• If you are to have IV contrast and you are allergic to the iodine contrast, your physician must provide you with medication for this, which you will usually take 24 hours ahead of time. Your physician may call our department and speak to a radiologist with any questions about this.
• If you are allergic to the contrast and arrive for your exam without having taken the medication, we will likely have to reschedule your CT for another day.

Routine CT Spine (no contrast):

• Arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before your CT is scheduled. Ask the scheduler what time that is.
• Plan to be at the hospital for approximately 45 minutes.

CT Spine with contrast:

• Do not eat, drink, or smoke anything at all for two hours before the exam. You may take any regular medications with a sip of water.
• Arrive at the hospital one hour before your CT is scheduled. Ask the scheduler what time that is.
• Plan to be at the hospital for approximately one and a half hours.

Bring to the hospital when you come for your test:

• Complete list of medications you are currently taking – name and dosage of each medication, and when you take it. 
• Written physician’s order for the test. If your provider is a Mon Health provider, your order will be sent electronically.

On the day of the test:

• Come in through the main entrance of Mon Health Medical Center and to the Radiology Services registration desk, down the hallway to the right.

One hour before the test (CT Spine with contrast only)

• The nurse will start an IV and/or draw blood, as necessary, before imaging.

After the exam:

• If you receive IV contrast, do not take any drug containing metformin for 48 hours after the IV contrast injection.

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Mon Health CT Department at (304) 598-1280.