CalciumCT.com

What to expect at your calcium scan

Booking, preparing, the few minutes on the table, the radiation dose, and what happens to your result, for before your appointment.

This page is for after you have found a facility and before you walk in. It covers what to ask when you book, how to prepare, what happens on the table, how much radiation the scan uses, and what happens to the result. Each facility runs its own appointments, so treat what it tells you as the final word; where the public sources below disagree with each other, we say so.

Nobody has medically reviewed this page. CalciumCT.com is a directory of published cash prices. We do not perform scans, read scans, employ clinicians, or practice medicine in any state. Whether the scan is right for you is a question for a licensed clinician who knows your history. How our guides are written.

When you book

Ask for the test by its billing code. “Heart scan” can mean more than one exam, and a coronary CT angiogram, which uses contrast dye, is a different test with its own price (the difference).

“I’d like to book a coronary calcium score, CPT 75571, the non-contrast one. What is your self-pay price?”

On the same call, it is worth asking:

We do not track how far ahead facilities book, so ask when the next opening is. Tell the facility if there is any chance you are pregnant: RadiologyInfo, CardioSmart and NHLBI all say to raise it before the scan.

Before the scan

Food, drink, caffeine and smoking. Instructions vary, so follow the ones the facility gives you. RadiologyInfo’s calcium-scoring page (dated 15 July 2026) says you will be told not to eat or drink anything, and to avoid caffeine and smoking, for four hours before the exam. Mayo Clinic says not to smoke or use caffeine for a few hours beforehand and that your care team will give you specific instructions. RadiologyInfo also notes that a high heart rate can interfere with the image quality of the test.

Medicines. Tell the facility what you take and ask whether to take it as usual that day. RadiologyInfo asks patients to mention recent illnesses, medical conditions, medicines and allergies.

What to wear. Loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to change into a gown. RadiologyInfo’s general CT guidance says metal can affect the images: leave jewelry at home or take it off, and you may be asked to remove eyeglasses, hairpins or a bra with a metal underwire. Mayo Clinic specifically says not to wear jewelry around your neck or near your chest.

No contrast dye. A calcium score is a non-contrast CT: RadiologyInfo says it does not require an injection of contrast material, and NHLBI says the test does not use contrast dye. Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus note that you may be given medicine to slow your heart rate, and Mayo Clinic that you may be offered something to help you relax if you are anxious, so ask the facility what it does.

During the scan

The descriptions below are from Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus, NHLBI and RadiologyInfo’s general CT guidance.

  1. Electrodes. Sticky patches with sensors go on your chest, and sometimes your arms or legs. Wires connect them to a machine that records your heart’s electrical activity (an ECG) during the scan.
  2. On the table. You lie on your back on a narrow table that slides into the scanner, a large ring with a short tunnel. Your head is usually outside the scanner the whole time. Mayo Clinic says the room will likely be cool.
  3. Holding still. Movement blurs the images, so you stay still and are asked to hold your breath for a few seconds at a time. You may hear buzzing, clicking and whirring as the scanner works.
  4. Talking to the technologist. You are usually alone in the room, but the technologist can see, hear and talk to you through an intercom the whole time.

How long it takes. The sources put the test itself at roughly 10 to 20 minutes: about 10 minutes (MedlinePlus), 10 to 15 minutes (NHLBI and Mayo Clinic), 10 to 20 minutes (CardioSmart) and less than 20 minutes (RadiologyInfo). Check-in, changing and paperwork come on top, so ask the facility how long to allow. RadiologyInfo describes the exam as painless; MedlinePlus notes some people find the hard table uncomfortable.

The radiation dose

A calcium scan uses X-rays, so it involves ionizing radiation. RadiologyInfo’s radiation dose page (dated 15 April 2025) gives these approximate effective doses for an average-sized adult:

Exam or source Approximate effective dose About the same as natural background radiation for
Chest X-ray 0.1 mSv 10 days
Screening digital mammogram 0.28 mSv 34 days
CT for lung cancer screening 1.5 mSv 6 months
Cardiac CT for calcium scoring 1.7 mSv 6 months
CT of the chest 6.1 mSv 2 years
Coronary CT angiography 8.7 mSv 3 years
Natural background radiation in the U.S. about 3 mSv a year  

Two caveats come with those figures. RadiologyInfo says the actual dose can vary substantially with a person’s size and with the equipment and protocol, and NHLBI’s page (last updated 24 March 2022) puts the radiation from one calcium scan at about what you are naturally exposed to over a year, a higher figure than RadiologyInfo’s. Ask the imaging center what dose its own protocol typically gives. RadiologyInfo also notes that no radiation remains in your body after a CT exam, and that the X-rays used should have no immediate side effects, and that doctors generally do not recommend CT during pregnancy unless it is medically necessary.

Afterwards

There is no recovery time. RadiologyInfo says you can return to normal activities immediately, and Mayo Clinic that you can usually drive yourself home unless you are told otherwise. If you were given medicine to relax, ask the facility whether you can drive.

Who reads it. A radiologist analyzes the images and sends an official report to the doctor who ordered the exam (RadiologyInfo). The result is a number, the Agatston score, and the report may also give a percentile comparing your score with people of the same age and sex (Mayo Clinic).

When it arrives. That depends on the facility, so ask before you leave. If you want your own copy, the HIPAA Privacy Rule gives you the right to see and get copies of your health information, including medical images. HHS says a provider normally has up to 30 days to provide a copy and often does it much sooner, may charge a reasonable fee, and may let you view and download records through a web portal.

What the result is, and is not

The score measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. It does not measure softer plaque that has not calcified, and it does not show whether an artery is narrowed (RadiologyInfo; CardioSmart). A high score is sometimes followed by other tests, which RadiologyInfo notes may or may not add useful information. What the number means, and what the bands describe, is on our score guide; what it means for you is a conversation with your clinician.

If you have chest pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms, do not wait for a screening scan. Get medical care now.

Where to go next

Sources

All sources accessed 4 October 2026.

This is general education, not medical advice, and no clinician has reviewed it. Follow the preparation instructions your facility gives you. Whether to have the scan, and what your score means, are questions for a licensed clinician who knows your history.

Last updated .