The short answer: preparation depends on what is being scanned. Abdominal ultrasounds usually require fasting, pelvic ultrasounds usually require a full bladder, and musculoskeletal ultrasounds usually need no preparation at all. Your clinic will give exact instructions when you book — follow theirs over any general guide.
Common preparation by scan type
- Abdominal ultrasound (liver, gallbladder, pancreas): typically fast for around 6 hours beforehand so the gallbladder is distended and bowel gas is reduced. Small sips of water are usually fine.
- Pelvic or renal ultrasound: usually drink water in the hour before and arrive with a comfortably full bladder — it acts as an acoustic window.
- Pregnancy ultrasound: early scans often need a full bladder; later scans usually do not.
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound (shoulder, knee, tendon): no preparation; wear clothing that gives easy access to the area.
- Doppler / vascular ultrasound: often no preparation, though some abdominal vascular studies require fasting.
What to bring
- Your referral form (paper or electronic)
- Medicare card and any concession card
- Previous imaging of the same area, if it was done elsewhere
- A list of relevant surgery or medical history for the sonographer
What happens during the scan
A sonographer applies warm gel and moves a transducer over the skin. Most studies take 15–30 minutes. The images are then reviewed and reported by a radiologist, and the report is sent to your referring doctor — usually within a few working days, faster if marked urgent.
Booking tips
Ultrasound is one of the most widely available and commonly bulk-billed scans in Australia — see our bulk-billing guide. If you need an appointment quickly, ring a few clinics: availability varies a lot between practices even in the same suburb. Compare clinics near you on Imaging Finder: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or browse all locations.
General information only. Always follow the specific preparation instructions your clinic provides.
Author: Dr. Mark Bekhit
Dr Mark Bekhit (MBChB, FRANZCR) is a musculoskeletal radiologist practising in Brisbane and an AHPRA-registered specialist in diagnostic radiology (MED0002920947). He spends as much time building software as reading scans: he founded Imaging Finder (Australia) and Radiology Clinics NZ to make imaging easier to find, and builds radiology dictation and pain-tracking tools with one aim — better patient outcomes and a smoother reporting workflow. Outside the reading room he's usually training, bringing the same performance mindset to imaging.
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