FibroScan Testing is an FDA-approved non-invasive diagnostic device used to measure liver scarring or fibrosis caused by a number of liver diseases. Similar to undergoing a conventional liver ultrasound exam, outpatient FibroScan testing is quick, painless, easy, and provides a non-surgical alternative to the traditional liver biopsy to assess liver damage.

FibroScan is the name of a medical device used to help determine the health of your liver. The term FibroScan, which is often confused for “fiber scan,” “fibro scan” or even “fibro liver scan,” is also used to refer to the FibroScan liver test itself.

If your doctor is recommending a FibroScan of the liver, it is likely to assess the health of your liver and detect liver fibrosis, which can indicate the presence and extent of liver damage or liver disease. FibroScan uses advanced ultrasound technology called transient elastography to measure liver stiffness.

The liver scan FibroScan can be used to help diagnose or monitor the progression of diseases affecting the liver, such as:

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: With nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), excessive amounts of fat are stored in liver cells, which puts you at risk for developing liver damage.
• Alcoholic liver disease: Also known as alcoholic hepatitis, this is liver damage caused by drinking more alcohol than your liver can process, creating inflammation that can cause serious scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure.
• Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): A form of NAFLD that is more aggressive than fatty liver and causes liver damage, including cirrhosis, and can lead to liver failure.
• Viral infection: When the liver becomes infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), it causes liver inflammation and puts you at an increased risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer, or of suffering from liver failure.
• Hemochromatosis: Excessive amounts of iron are stored in your organs, including the liver, which can become toxic for the body and create liver damage and other serious life-threatening complications.

The FibroScan test can also be used to monitor liver health for patients following a liver transplantation.

FibroScan preparation is simple and straightforward. You will be asked to fast for at least 3 hours before your liver fibrosis test. You should wear comfortable clothes (e.g. shirt, loose dress) that can be moved/repositioned to allow the nurse to examine your right upper abdomen. Please do not wear any tight clothing to your appointment. You may also be asked to rest on the examination bed for a few minutes before the exam because it is important for the measurements to be taken while your body is at rest.

• Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
• Please bring insurance/ID card, and list of your current medications.
• FibroScan requires no sedation of any kind. You may drive yourself to and from the test.
• The procedure can take up to 1 hour depending on your anatomy.
• For the procedure, you will lie on your back with your right arm raised behind your head, and your right abdominal area exposed (wear loose fitting clothing).
• A medical provider will apply a water-based gel to your skin, then will place a non-invasive probe over your liver.
• During the exam, you may feel a slight vibration on the skin at the tip of the probe as it delivers ultrasound waves to the area for measuring purposes.

The computer will analyze the information from your test. The results will be given to your physician for review. You will be notified of the results once reviewed.