Offered at: Aurora and Vaughan clinics.

What is a BMD exam?

Bone mineral densitometry is a special X-ray examination used to measure bone loss.  It is also known as Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA).  The exam is usually performed on the lumbar spine and hip. The results can help with diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

OHIP covers one baseline BMD test per patient per lifetime. Follow up studies will depend on the results of your baseline test and clinical risk factors.

There are various clinical risk factors which may lead your physician to order a BMD test for you.

How can I prepare for a BMD exam?

• BMD studies require appointments.  Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to register
• There is no special preparation for a BMD
• Please wear a comfortable two piece outfit with no zipper or metal parts
• If you have recently had a Barium examination or have been injected with contrast for a CT scan or isotope for a Nuclear Medicine scan, you will need to wait 2 weeks before having a BMD

How is a BMD performed?

A technologist will call you in and ask you to lie on your back on the examination table. For each part of the study (spine and hip) your legs will be positioned appropriately.  A small detector attached to the table will slowly move across the spine or hip and generate images on the computer monitor.

The procedure takes about 15 minutes.