Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Testing

A bone density scan measures how much calcium and other types of minerals are in an area of your bone.

The scan may help your health care provider to determine your future fracture risk and measure your response to treatment.

Note:

Please call the Diagnostic Imaging booking office if:

You have had a scan in Diagnostic Imaging within 2 weeks of your appointment, especially if you had a dye injection, CT, MRI, a barium study, or a nuclear medicine study.
You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

These may interfere with the scan and your appointment may have to be rescheduled.

If you have already had a scan, please go back to the same hospital where you had the scan. The same machine must be used to follow any changes to your bone health

How do I prepare for a scan?

Please do not wear clothing with any metal or plastic, such as zippers, buttons, beads, or hooks. Sports bras are OK if there are no clips. Please take out any belly button rings before you arrive.
You do not need to do anything to get ready for the scan. If you are on steroid or bone-building medication, the technologist will need to know the name of the medication, how long you have been taking it, and the dose (how much) you take.
We will ask you to complete a health questionnaire once you are registered for your test.

What will happen during my scan?

You will lie down on a cushioned table and the scanner will pass over your lower spine and hip Other parts of your body may be scanned, as needed.

You will need to stay still while the scan is being done.

Wait times

Current average wait times for bone mineral density testing with us can be found here.

Accessing this Clinic, Program or Service

Bone Mineral Density screening is available at the following locations:

Cape Breton Regional Hospital

1482 George St.
Sydney, Nova Scotia

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
902-567-7778

Hours as required, approx. two days per week

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at 1-844-I-REBOOK (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Colchester East Hants Health Centre

600 Abenaki Rd.
Truro, Nova Scotia

sat Dec 21 Closed

sun Dec 22 Closed

mon Dec 23 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

tue Dec 24 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

wed Dec 25 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

thu Dec 26 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

fri Dec 27 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
902-893-4321

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at 1-844-I-REBOOK (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Dartmouth General Hospital

325 Pleasant Street
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

sat Dec 21 Closed

sun Dec 22 Closed

mon Dec 23 Closed

tue Dec 24 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

wed Dec 25 Closed

thu Dec 26 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

fri Dec 27 Closed

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
902-465-8318

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Fishermen's Memorial Hospital

There are one or more unplanned disruptions affecting this location. Click here for more information.

14 High Street
P.O. Box 1180
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

sat Dec 21 Closed

sun Dec 22 Closed

mon Dec 23 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

tue Dec 24 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

wed Dec 25 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

thu Dec 26 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

fri Dec 27 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
902-634-3106

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

St. Martha's Regional Hospital

25 Bay Street
Antigonish, Nova Scotia

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
Tel: 902-867-4500x4524
Hours as required, approx. two days per week

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Valley Regional Hospital

150 Exhibition Street
Kentville, Nova Scotia

sat Dec 21 Closed

sun Dec 22 Closed

mon Dec 23 7:30 am - 3:30 pm

tue Dec 24 7:30 am - 3:30 pm

wed Dec 25 7:30 am - 3:30 pm

thu Dec 26 7:30 am - 3:30 pm

fri Dec 27 7:30 am - 3:30 pm

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
902-679-3819 ext. 2

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call 1-844-I-REBOOK (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Victoria Building

Part of QEII Health Sciences Centre

1276 South Park Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia

sat Dec 21 Closed

sun Dec 22 Closed

mon Dec 23 8:15 am - 3:15 pm

tue Dec 24 8:15 am - 3:15 pm

wed Dec 25 Closed

thu Dec 26 8:15 am - 3:15 pm

fri Dec 27 8:15 am - 3:15 pm

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
902-473-3618

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Yarmouth Regional Hospital

60 Vancouver Street
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

sat Dec 21 Closed

sun Dec 22 Closed

mon Dec 23 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

tue Dec 24 Closed

wed Dec 25 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

thu Dec 26 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

fri Dec 27 Closed

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
1-877-742-2571

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre

420 Susie Lake Crescent
Halifax, Nova Scotia

sat Dec 21 Closed

sun Dec 22 Closed

mon Dec 23 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

tue Dec 24 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

wed Dec 25 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

thu Dec 26 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

fri Dec 27 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

A physician referral is required to access this service.

Contact:
902-876-6429

How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Please call toll free at 1-844-I-REBOOK (1-844-473-2665). You will be asked to select the location of your appointment and service.

You will be connected with a team member who can cancel your appointment and help arrange for a new appointment.

Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Testing

How do I prepare for a scan?

What will happen during my scan?

Wait times

Accessing this Clinic, Program or Service

Part of QEII Health Sciences Centre

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