SPECIALTIES

What to expect:

The tests take approximately one and a half (1.5) hours (set up, running the exams, clean up).  The Carotid Ultrasound assesses the blood flow within the carotid arteries of the right and left side of the neck. You will have water-based hypoallergenic gel applied to your neck. A transducer will be rubbed up and down each side of your neck several times.  The Transcranial Doppler assesses the blood flow within the arteries of the brain. You will have water-based hypoallergenic gel applied to the areas between your ear and temple, eyelids, and base of your skull. A transducer will be rubbed along these areas several times. You will be asked to roll onto your left side and tuck your head for the technician to reach the base of your skull.  After the examination is finished, your hair may be wet from the gel. As the gel is water-based, it will dry up, so a shower is not necessary unless you feel the need to do so.

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Patient Preparation:

1. Please make sure that you arrive at our Reston office location on time for your appointment. Exams are scheduled every hour, on the hour. If you are late, you will be asked to reschedule.

2. Please do not wear any makeup of any kind. Makeup will impact the transducer’s ability to clearly see your arteries.

3. Please do not wear any perfumes or colognes.

4. Please do not smoke thirty (30) minutes prior to the exam.

5. Please contact your insurance company to receive an estimate on what cost(s) you will be responsible for. We do not check cost estimates. The CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code for the tests are 93880 for the Carotid Ultrasound and 93886 for the Transcranial Doppler.

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If you have any questions regarding this examination, please call us at (703) 478-0440. As stated in our payment policy, there is a late cancellation/no show fee of $250.00 that will be applied to the patient’s account if we are not notified of your cancellation 48 hours in advance.