Muga Scan
Understanding MUGA Scans
A MUGA (multi-gated acquisition) scan is a nuclear imaging study that shows how much blood your heart is pumping and how well the walls of your heart are contracting. This highly accurate scan measures your heart’s ejection fraction, which is the percentage of blood pumped out of your heart’s left ventricle with each beat.
By tracking the movement of red blood cells through your heart chambers, the MUGA scan provides detailed information about your heart’s pumping efficiency and can help identify areas of the heart muscle that may not be contracting properly.
Patient Testimonials
Amy K.
“Calling for my appointment was a real blessing that I got Amy who went beyond in what was expected to get me in appointments quickly…”
Shawn, Macy
“Today’s providers Shawna and Macy were very kind and caring. Exceptional service. Thank you!”
Ashely, Paul, Chris
“The receptionist Ashley was wonderful… Both Chris and Paul were very patient and kind and really put me at ease.”
Vanessa
“I wish to especially thank Vanessa in Scheduling. She went above and beyond to make sure this test was completed.”
Hartlee and Paula
“Hartlee and Paula were awesome. Both explained thoroughly what they were going to do during the exam.”
Lindsey
“She was absolutely wonderful, so welcoming… I don’t think people realize what a difference that makes when you are coming in for testing.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Your technologist will take a small amount of blood from your vein (usually from your arm). This drawn blood is mixed with a radioisotope in the lab that binds to your red blood cells. This process is called labeling. The treated blood is injected back into the vein in your arm and allows us to image where the red blood cells go in your body.
The imaging portion takes approximately 30 minutes, but you should plan to be in our department for about 75 minutes total. This allows time for the blood labeling process and preparation.
A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm and mixed with a radioisotope in the lab. This radioisotope binds to your red blood cells in a process called labeling. The treated blood is then reinjected into your vein, allowing us to track your red blood cells and image your heart function.
No, the procedure is not painful. You’ll feel a small pinch during the blood draw and reinjection, but the imaging itself is non-invasive and painless.
Ejection fraction is the percentage of blood pumped out of your heart’s left ventricle with each beat. It’s an important measure of how efficiently your heart is working.