Common Investigations

Blood and Urine tests

If we need to carry out any blood or urine tests these are generally arranged for another date.

During the current COVID-19 situation, temporary arrangements have been made for children to have bloods and urine taken at either:

Malling Health, Princess Royal Hospital

Copthorne Building, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

You will need to telephone 01743-492510 (open between 9.00 – 4.00 pm) to book an appointment. You will then be given a date and time and instructions on how to get to the clinic. We will issue you with the appropriate blood and urine forms which you will need to take to this appointment.

If you require numbing cream for your child please contact your GP Surgery.

You will be informed in writing of the results of the tests but only after all results are received unless an urgent response is required. Any genetic test results can take as long a 6 months to be returned.

Please be aware that administrative staff are not permitted to give results of investigations out over the phone.

CT Scan

A CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses X-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the body.

A CT scan causes no pain. Your child will lie on a narrow table, which slides into the center of the CT scanner. Once inside the scanner, the machine's X-ray beam rotates around your child and they may be told to hold their breath for short periods of time. Children who have difficulty lying still may need to be sedated because movement causes blurred images. Generally, complete scans take only a few minutes.

The CT scan may need to be performed at a regional hospital.

ECG

An ECG – or electrocardiogram - is a simple and useful test which records the rhythm and electrical activity of your heart.

Small sticky patches called electrodes will be put onto your arms, legs and chest. These are connected to an ECG recording machine which picks up the electrical signals that make your heart beat.

The test will only take a few minutes and is painless.

EEG

An EEG (electroencephalogram) is a recording of brain activity. The brain's cells produce tiny electrical signals when they send messages to each other. An EEG is usually carried out as an outpatient procedure. During an EEG test, small electrodes are placed on to your scalp. They pick up your brain's electrical signals and send them to a machine called an electroencephalograph, which records the signals as wavy lines on to a computer screen or paper.

An EEG is painless and typically takes 30-45 minutes.

Please be aware that the EEG may need to be performed at a regional hospital.

MRI scan

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of organs and structures inside your body. It does not use radiation.

An MRI exam causes no pain; your child will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner. Children who have difficulty lying still may need to be sedated as too much movement can blur MRI images and cause errors. Doing the scan can take a long time and the MRI machine may make a lot of noise.

Please be aware that the MRI scan may need to be performed at a regional hospital.

Renal ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan is a painless test that uses a high frequency sound waves that you cannot hear, but it can be emitted and detected by special machines, to create images of organs and structures inside your body. It is a very commonly used test. A renal ultrasound looks at the kidneys and related structures e.g. the bladder.

Unless instructed otherwise it is important your child attends with a full bladder for the ultrasound scan.

Sleep studies

A "mini" sleep study is more usually performed, where equipment will be used to monitor the amount of oxygen the body is getting (pulse oximetry) combined with a nursing observation. This can involve a night in hospital or alternatively you may be given a home study tester unit.

The ultimate investigation is polysomnography which can include:

• Electro-encephalography (EEG) - brain wave monitoring
• Electromyography (EMG) - muscle tone monitoring
• Recording thoracic-abdominal movements - chest and abdomen movements
• Recording oro-nasal flow - mouth and nose air flow
• Pulse oximetry - heart rate and blood oxygen level monitoring
• Electrocardiography(ECG) - heart monitoring