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DownloadA SeHCAT scan assesses if there is an abnormality with your bile salt absorption. Bile salts help to digest fats and eliminate toxins from the body. When bile salts are not absorbed properly, the bowel cannot function properly, causing diarrhoea.
Having a SeHCAT scan requires you to attend two appointments, seven days apart.
If there is a possibility that you are pregnant or you are currently breastfeeding please inform the department before your appointment as we will likely have to re-schedule.
Whenever possible, please attend your appointment alone, unless you need a carer to support any additional needs.
If you are taking:
Please stop these the day before the test and only start again after the second scan.
At your first appointment, you will be required to swallow a SeHCAT capsule, which contains a small amount of a radioactive tracer.
It will take a minimum of one hour for this capsule to work. You may leave the department during this time and can eat and drink normally.
When you return for your scan you do not usually have to undress but we will ask you to remove any metal objects such as phones, belts, keys.
For the scan you will be required to stand still for five minutes.
SeHCAT scan
After this, the nuclear medicine technologist will ask you to wait for a few minutes while they check the images from your scan.
To calculate the exact amount of radioactive tracer remaining in your body we will do the same scan again. This time you will not have to swallow the capsule 1 hour beforehand.
After each appointment you can resume all usual activities. Eat as normal and keep well hydrated.
The report will be sent to your referring doctor. They will contact you to discuss the results. If you have any enquiries regarding your results please contact the department where the referral was originally made.
The radioactive tracer administered will expose you to a small amount of ionising radiation, consistent with the desired diagnostic outcome.
The risks are very low and the benefits of having the results from the procedure greatly outweigh the risk.
Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH)
Nuclear Medicine Department
Hanbury Building, Royal Sussex County Hospital
Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE
Telephone: 01273 696955, extension 64381 or 64382
Princess Royal Hospital (PRH)
Nuclear Medicine Department
Lewes Road, Haywards Heath
West Sussex RH16 4EX
This information is intended for patients receiving care in Brighton & Hove or Haywards Heath.
The information in this leaflet is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.
Publication Date: June 2022
Review Date: March 2025