Urology - Flow and Scan

The urology clinician has requested special tests to give us more information about your bladder symptoms.

Flow Rate Test

For this test you need to attend the department with a full bladder. You can do this by drinking fluids (water, coffee, tea, cordial) before you attend your appointment. We understand this may be difficult for you but please do the best you can. This will reduce the length of time you need to spend in the department.

When you arrive and you are ready to pass urine, please let the receptionist or nursing staff know. You will then be asked to pass urine into a “flow rate” machine. This gives us important information about your bladder symptoms and can help us diagnose the cause of your problem.

Bladder Scan

Once you have passed urine you will be asked to lie on a bed where a nurse will scan your abdomen with an ultrasound probe to assess whether you have emptied your bladder.

The benefit of having these tests, are we can gain valuable information about your bladder symptoms, enabling us to formulate a management plan.

There are no risks to having the tests and no alternative way of getting the necessary information.

Once the test is completed, advice and guidance will be provided. The results will be sent to the urology clinician who may recommend that you start a new treatment or have further investigations. They may also recommend that you return to clinic to formulate a management plan.