White Blood Cell Scan

[Mrs_R]

Hi everyone!

Just looking for some answers and a bit of advice. My Consultant has referred me for a white blood cell scan as they are having trouble locating the site of my inflammation. I had a pill camera before Christmas but it was inconclusive - probably due to the fact that I was on a high dose of steroids (I did wonder why I was kept on them when the examination was scheduled). I asked my doctor what the white blood cell scan involved and she said I drink something...but that was all the detail she could give me. I asked if it was a Barium X-ray but she said it was different. I have googled the test myself and have read it involves taking some blood and then having it injected it back in me?

Could anyone shed some light on this, has anyone had it done here in the UK?

I feel like I have a millon questions; does it hurt? Will I have to stay at the hospital long? How does it show active Crohn's?

Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you in advance :thumleft:

 

[DJW]

I've never had one. Hope all goes well.

 

[SarahD]

I had a white blood cell scan when I was in my teens. They take some blood from a vein in your arm, then take it away for the white blood cells to be labelled with something radioactive which can be picked up on x-rays. Once the blood is labelled they inject it back into your arm. Then you wait a little while and then they do a series of x-rays.

The white blood cells travel to areas of inflammation, which show up as white on the x-rays. In mine it showed patches of inflammation in my colon very clearly.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, although it was a long time ago (about 15 years!).

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Yes I am in the UK and have had it done (a few years ago)

A large vial of blood is taken from a vein. They go away to the lab and "tag" the white cells with a small amount of radio active material. The blood is then injected back into you.

After waiting for it to circulate around your body, x rays will be taken. The radio active material is attracted to and will stick to areas of inflammation and this will show up on the x rays.

The whole process should take several hours as an outpatient.

It shouldn't hurt apart from inserting and removing the cannula, to allow the blood draw and re entry with ease.