Are there ways to get a false positive hida scan?

Yes: Specifically, if the hida scan is done to diagnose acute cholecystitis, there are many potential causes of a false positive. Some reasons include nonfasting state, prolonged fasting, recent use of narcotics, liver dysfunction due to chronic disease or alcoholism, and more.

Yes: Fasting for more than 24 hours without the appropriate preparation before hida or the use of opioids (morphine, etc.) could fail to show feeling of the gallbladder in the abscense of gb inflammation, similarly to the results seen with acute cholecystitis. This would be a false positive result.

Yes: If you are fasting for more than 12 hours prior to scan, the gallbladder is full of bile, therefore the nuclear radiotracer cannot get inside the gallbladder. This will give the appearance of acute inflammation or cholecystitis.

Yes...: There are many ways to get false positive on hida. It is important not to eat 4-6 hours before scan. It is also important not to fast more than 24 hours before scan. This can cause false positive for cystic duct obstruction (acute cholecystitis). Lastly, it is important not to take opiate medications for 4-6 hours before test. This can cause false positive for common bile duct obstruction.

Yes: False positive results can occur when patient fasts too long or is on IVs for nutrition. If patient eats fatty foods prior to study gall bladder will be contracted before test. Certain pain medications such as morphine and demerol (meperidine hydrochloride) can confuse results and be false positive.