FibroScan® is a quick, painless, non-invasive test that measures liver stiffness and fat content to assess liver health without needles, surgery, or radiation.
How it works:
• Uses ultrasound-like technology called transient elastography
• Gentle sound waves pass through your liver
• Measures liver stiffness, which indicates scarring (fibrosis)
• Measures fat content using a CAP score
• Takes 20 minutes or less
• Provides immediate numerical results
FibroScan® is ideal for:
• Diagnosing and monitoring fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH)
• Tracking chronic hepatitis B and C
• Assessing alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis
• Monitoring liver transplant recipients
• Avoiding invasive liver biopsy
Your doctor ordered a FibroScan® to evaluate your liver health and detect fibrosis (scarring) or steatosis (fatty changes) that may indicate liver disease.
Common reasons for ordering FibroScan®:
• Abnormal liver function tests (elevated ALT or AST)
• Suspected or confirmed fatty liver disease (NAFLD or NASH)
• Chronic hepatitis B or C monitoring
• Alcohol-related liver disease
• Metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol
• Long-term use of medications that affect the liver
• Family history of liver disease
• Monitoring liver health after transplant
The benefit: FibroScan® provides critical information that blood tests and standard imaging cannot reveal, helping guide treatment decisions without invasive biopsy.
Yes, you need a referral (also called a doctor’s order or prescription) to get a FibroScan®.
What your referral does:
• Provides clinical information about your liver condition or risk factors
• Is necessary for insurance coverage
• Ensures the test is medically appropriate for your situation
Once your doctor sends the order to American Health Imaging, we’ll contact you to schedule your appointment and verify your insurance coverage.
Schedule your FibroScan®:
https://americanhealthimaging.com/request-appointment/
Scheduling a same-day FibroScan® at American Health Imaging is easy and convenient.
Flexible scheduling options:
• Call us or request an appointment online
• Same-day and next-day appointments available
• Convenient hours to fit your schedule
Once your referral is received, we can often schedule your scan quickly at our Decatur, Georgia location. Remember to fast for 3 hours before your appointment.
Schedule your FibroScan®:
https://americanhealthimaging.com/request-appointment/
American Health Imaging currently offers FibroScan® at our Decatur, Georgia location in Metro Atlanta.
We offer:
• Same-day and next-day appointments
• Convenient hours
• Ample parking
• Compassionate, experienced staff
View location details:
https://americanhealthimaging.com/location/
FibroScan® provides two critical measurements that assess liver health.
Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM):
• Measured in kilopascals (kPa)
• Indicates extent of liver scarring (fibrosis)
• Normal range: 2–7 kPa
• Higher values indicate more scarring
• Maximum reading: 75 kPa
Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) score:
• Measured in decibels per meter (dB/m)
• Indicates fat content in liver cells
• Normal: below 238 dB/m
• Higher values indicate fatty liver disease
Together, these measurements help diagnose and monitor liver disease progression.
FibroScan® is recommended for anyone with liver disease risk factors or diagnosed liver conditions who needs monitoring without invasive biopsy.
People with risk factors:
• Obesity or overweight (BMI over 25)
• Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
• High cholesterol or triglycerides
• Metabolic syndrome
• Heavy alcohol use
• Family history of liver disease
People with liver conditions:
• NAFLD or NASH
• Chronic hepatitis B or C
• Alcoholic liver disease
• Cirrhosis
• Autoimmune liver diseases
• History of liver transplant
Preparing for a FibroScan® requires a few simple steps.
Before your appointment:
• Fast for 3 hours (no food or drinks except small sips of water)
• Wear loose clothing with access to the right rib cage
• Bring photo ID and insurance card
• Bring a list of medications
Fasting is important because food and fluid can interfere with measurement accuracy.
During your FibroScan®, you’ll lie comfortably on your back with your right arm raised.
What happens:
• Gel applied to the skin over your liver
• Handheld probe sends gentle vibration waves
• You may feel light tapping, but no pain
• Multiple measurements taken for accuracy
• Exam takes 20 minutes or less
There are no needles, radiation, or recovery time.
After your FibroScan®, you can resume all normal activities immediately.
After your scan:
• Eat and drink normally
• Take medications as prescribed
• Drive yourself home
• Return to work or exercise
Your doctor receives a written report, and you receive a patient-friendly report via text.
Your doctor typically receives results within 24 hours. In urgent cases, results may be available sooner.
You will receive:
• A text message with a link to your imaging report within 48 hours
• Easy-to-understand explanations
• Anatomical diagrams
FibroScan® is highly accurate for detecting advanced liver scarring, with accuracy rates of 87–94% for severe fibrosis (F3) and cirrhosis (F4).
Key points:
• Excellent at ruling out significant fibrosis
• Samples a larger volume of liver than biopsy
• Can be repeated safely over time
• No risks associated with biopsy
In some cases, additional testing may still be needed.
The FibroScan® exam takes 20 minutes or less from start to finish.
Unlike biopsy:
• No sedation
• No recovery time
• Immediate numerical results
FibroScan® costs vary depending on insurance coverage.
American Health Imaging:
• In-network with 99% of insurance plans
• Offers transparent self-pay pricing
• Verifies coverage and provides cost estimates
FibroScan® can save hundreds to thousands of dollars compared to liver biopsy.
Most insurance plans cover FibroScan® when medically necessary.
Common covered conditions:
• Chronic hepatitis B or C
• NAFLD or NASH
• Alcoholic liver disease
• Cirrhosis
• Liver transplant monitoring
We verify coverage and handle pre-authorization.
Regular ultrasound shows liver anatomy and structure but cannot accurately measure scarring or fat.
FibroScan®:
• Measures fibrosis numerically
• Measures fat content with CAP score
• Stages disease progression
• Tracks changes over time
Both tests may be used together for comprehensive evaluation.
In many cases, yes. FibroScan® is now the preferred first-line test for assessing liver fibrosis.
Advantages over biopsy:
• Non-invasive
• Safer
• Faster
• Repeatable
• Immediate results
Biopsy may still be needed in select cases.
FibroScan® is valuable for diagnosing and monitoring:
• NAFLD and NASH
• Chronic hepatitis B and C
• Alcoholic liver disease
• Cirrhosis
• Autoimmune liver disease
• Hemochromatosis
• Liver transplant health
It provides quantitative data that can be tracked over time.
No. FibroScan® is completely painless and has no side effects.
You may feel:
• Light vibration or tapping
• Cool gel on the skin
There are no restrictions after the exam.
Yes. FibroScan® uses an XL probe designed for patients with higher BMI.
The XL probe:
• Penetrates deeper tissue
• Provides accurate results
• Is performed the same way as the standard probe
Frequency depends on your condition.
Typical schedules:
• Annually for stable disease
• Every 6 months for moderate fibrosis
• Every 3–6 months during active treatment
Because FibroScan® is non-invasive, it can be repeated safely.
FibroScan® does not directly detect liver cancer, but it helps identify patients at higher risk.
Patients with cirrhosis should undergo regular cancer screening with imaging and blood tests.
Yes, FibroScan® is extremely safe for nearly all patients.
Safe for:
• Adults and children
• Patients with pacemakers or implants
• Pregnant patients (when necessary)
Not ideal for patients with ascites or who cannot lie flat.


