FibroScan Explained: Fatty Liver and Liver Scarring Test.

Liver disease often causes no symptoms until it is advanced, which is why a quick, painless test like FibroScan has become a common way to check the liver. If your doctor has mentioned fatty liver, raised liver enzymes or a chronic liver condition, you may be referred for one. Here is what the test measures, what the appointment is like and what to know about cost.

Quick Facts: FibroScan

FibroScan, also called transient elastography, measures liver stiffness and liver fat without needles or radiation. It requires a physician requisition. It is not covered by OHIP, so patients pay for the test themselves. Do not eat or drink anything except water for at least 3 hours before your appointment.

FibroScan is an ultrasound-based test that checks two things. The first is liver stiffness, which can point to fibrosis, meaning scarring. The second is a measurement called the Controlled Attenuation Parameter, or CAP, which estimates how much fat has built up in the liver.

Unlike a liver biopsy, FibroScan does not involve needles, incisions or sedation. It takes only a few minutes, and you can return to your normal activities right afterward.

Doctors use FibroScan to assess and monitor a range of liver conditions, including fatty liver disease (also called NAFLD, and now often MASLD), NASH, alcohol-related liver disease and chronic hepatitis B or C. It is also used to follow up on elevated liver enzymes, to look for fibrosis or cirrhosis, and to monitor patients before or after liver treatment.

Your doctor decides whether FibroScan makes sense for you. Patients with diabetes, excess weight, high cholesterol or blood pressure, long-term alcohol use, viral hepatitis or abnormal liver blood tests may be considered. If you are worried about your liver, the best first step is to raise it with your doctor. The Canadian Liver Foundation offers plain-language information on liver health.

You will lie on an exam table with your right arm raised above your head. A technologist places a small probe against the skin over your liver. The probe sends gentle vibrations and ultrasound waves into the liver to measure its stiffness. Most patients feel a light tapping sensation and nothing more.

The results are reviewed by qualified medical professionals and forwarded to your referring physician, who will explain what they mean for you.

Bring your requisition and Ontario health card, and arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Do not eat or drink anything except water for at least 3 hours before the test, keep taking your prescribed medications unless your physician says otherwise, and wear loose clothing that gives easy access to your upper abdomen.

FibroScan is not covered by OHIP, so you will pay for the test yourself. Ask about the fee when you book. You can find more details on our FibroScan service page.

Does FibroScan hurt? No. Most patients feel only a light tapping sensation from the probe, and there are no needles.

How long does it take? The test itself takes only a few minutes, and you can return to your usual activities straight away.

Do I still need other tests? Possibly. FibroScan gives your doctor information about liver stiffness and fat, and they decide whether any further testing is needed.

What should I do before my appointment? Do not eat or drink anything except water for at least 3 hours before the test, and keep taking your prescribed medications unless your physician says otherwise.

Who gets the results? Qualified medical professionals review the examination and forward the results to your referring physician, who will explain what they mean for your liver health.

If you already have a requisition from your doctor, our team is ready to help.