FibroScan

You might have a FibroScan if your healthcare provider thinks you could have liver disease. You may have had blood test results which show your liver might not be working very well.

Understanding your liver function results

A FibroScan can help show any damage to your liver and how bad it is. Things that can damage your liver include:

• alcohol
• being an unhealthy weight
• infections like hepatitis
• some genetic diseases, like haemochromatosis.

A FibroScan is often used instead of taking a sample (biopsy) of your liver.

FibroScan is a non-invasive (no needles) procedure. It is quick, painless and gives an immediate result. During the procedure, you will lie on your back with your right arm raised behind your head.

The person performing the procedure will:

• put water-based gel onto your skin
• place the FibroScan probe on your skin with a slight pressure
• take about 10 measurements over the same place on your body.

You will feel a slight vibration on your skin as the stiffness measurement is taken.

You should not eat or drink for 2 hours before your procedure, as this may affect the result.

Your healthcare provider will be sent the result of your FibroScan. They will interpret the result according to your medical record and your health condition. The result is a number that can be from 1.5 kPa to 75 kPa.

The FibroScan result helps the healthcare provider assess how likely it is that you have liver complications. It also often helps with decisions about the timing of any hepatitis treatments.

If you have severe fibrosis (cirrhosis) of your liver, your healthcare provider may recommend you have regular ultrasound scans.

Liver

You will need to be referred by your healthcare provider for a FibroScan. You cannot self-refer.

The scan can be done in the public health system or you may need to pay for it to be done privately, depending on your health condition.