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Tests Ordered Criteria

Criteria/Practical guide for ordering non-invasive diagnostic tests

Treadmill Stress Cardiolite

  • ability to walk on treadmill at least 1.5 miles per hour for a minimum of 5 minutes to achieve target heart rate
  • typically ordered for patients who have known heart disease and/or abnormal ECG tracings

Adenosine Stress Cardiolite

  • typically ordered for patients with left bundle branch block or paced rhythm on ECG, and/or inability to walk on treadmill

Dobutamine Stress Cardiolite

  • typically ordered for patients who have an inability to walk on treadmill
  • typically ordered in place of adenosine stress cardiolite if patient has a diagnosis of bronchoconstrictive or bronchospastic lung disease

Treadmill Stress Test

  • typically ordered for patients who have ability to walk on treadmill at least 1.5 miles per hour for minimum of 5 minutes and who have normal ECG tracings

Echocardiogram

  • typically ordered for patients to evaluate valvular, pericardial, myocardial and congenital diseases

Treadmill Stress Echocardiogram

  • typically ordered for patients who have the ability to walk at least 1.5 miles per hour for minimum of 5 minutes for physicians wishing to diagnose wall motion abnormalities, abnormal EKG and/or chest pain by using stress/exercise

Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram

  • typically ordered for patients with inability to walk on treadmill for physicians wishing to diagnose valvular, pericardial, myocardial and congenital diseases by using a pharmacological stress agent

Holter Monitor

  • typically ordered for patients to analyze heart rhythm based on 24 to 48 hours (continuous rhythm strip)

Event Monitor

  • typically ordered for patients to analyze heart rhythm (symptom specific) for a period of 7 days to one month.  Patient is required to press monitor record button during symptoms 

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

  • typically ordered for patients with prior abnormal ABI, persistent leg pain with or without walking, history of numbness or tingling in legs, history of heart disease, current smoker, diabetic, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, or unhealed leg wounds.

For Treadmill Stress Cardiolite, Treadmill Stress, Treadmill Stress Echocardiogram, Dobutamine Stress Cardiolite and Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram

  • no caffeine or nicotine for 24 hours prior to test
  • no food or drink for 4 hours prior to test
  • hold beta-blockers and nitrates for 24 hours before test unless specified
  • hold Viagra, Levitra, Cialis for 48 hours before test
  • patient to arrive 15 minutes before test wearing comfortable clothing and shoes, no dresses, full slips, or panty hose

For Echocardiogram

  • light meal day of test
  • patient to arrive 15 minutes before test wearing comfortable clothing, no dresses, full slips, or panty hose

For Adenosine Stress Cardiolite

  • no caffeine or nicotine for 24 hours prior to test
  • no food or drink for 4 hours prior to test
  • hold beta-blockers, xanthines and nitrates for 24 hours before test unless specified
  • hold methylxanthines, Viagra, Levitra, Cialis for 48 hours prior to test
  • patient to arrive 15 minutes before test wearing comfortable clothing, no dresses, full slips, or panty hose