Diagnostic Test
DMSA Scan
A DMSA scan looks closely at the shape and function of your kidneys to detect any areas of damage or scarring from infections. Find out what to expect here.
Key Takeaways
- A DMSA scan looks closely at the shape and function of your kidneys to detect any areas of damage or scarring from infections. Find out what to expect here.
- We offer specialist interpretation and related treatments. Book a consultation to discuss your options.
Overview
About DMSA Scan
A DMSA scan is a highly reliable nuclear medicine test used to assess the structure, location, and overall health of your kidneys.
Unlike a dynamic MAG3 scan that watches fluid drain, a DMSA scan takes detailed, static pictures. It involves a small injection of a radioactive tracer called DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid). This tracer travels through your blood and is absorbed directly by the healthy, working tissue of your kidneys. A special scanner called a gamma camera then takes detailed pictures to highlight if there are any areas that are not working properly or have been permanently marked.
Test Information
Understanding Your Test
A detailed guide to your diagnostic procedure — from essential preparation and the purpose of the test to safety considerations and what to expect during the process.
A DMSA scan is carried out in two distinct stages with a long gap in between, so you should prepare to be at the hospital or clinic for a few hours.
Stage One (The Injection): A clinician will give you a quick injection of the DMSA tracer into a vein in your hand or arm. You will then have a 2 to 4-hour waiting period. This delay is entirely necessary to give your kidneys enough time to fully absorb the tracer from your blood. During this wait, you are free to leave the hospital department, eat normally, and go about your day.
Stage Two (The Scan): When you return, you will lie flat on a scanning couch while the gamma camera moves very close to your stomach and back to take static pictures. You will need to lie completely still for about 20 to 30 minutes while the images are captured, but the camera will not touch you.
The scan itself is entirely painless, and the camera will not cause you any discomfort.
The only part you might feel is a tiny, brief scratch from the needle during the tracer injection in stage one. If the scan is for a child or someone who is very nervous about needles, the hospital team can apply a numbing cream or a freeze spray beforehand to make the injection completely stress-free.
Your specialist will typically recommend a DMSA scan to check for kidney scarring.
This is particularly common if you have a history of multiple or severe urinary tract infections (UTIs) or kidney infections (pyelonephritis). It is also widely used to measure "split function"—showing exactly what percentage of work each kidney is doing (for example, whether it is a healthy 50/50 balance or if one kidney is doing the majority of the work due to damage in the other).
At a glance
Preparation required
- No fasting is needed – you can eat and take all regular medications normally before and during the test.
- Drink plenty of fluids: Staying well hydrated before the test and during the waiting period helps get the best quality images and assists your body in flushing out any extra tracer.
- Recent infection check: If you have had a confirmed urinary tract infection (UTI) within the last 3 months, please let the clinic know before arriving, as active infections can affect the scan quality and your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
Risks or considerations
- The test involves a very low dose of radiation that is short-lived and carries minimal risk—significantly less than a standard CT scan.
- Radiation safety precaution: To keep others completely safe, UK health guidelines advise avoiding prolonged close contact with pregnant women and young children for the rest of the day.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If there is any chance you might be pregnant or if you are currently breastfeeding, you must notify the nuclear medicine department before your appointment date.
What it can help diagnose
- Areas of permanent damage or scarring in the kidneys caused by previous severe infections
- Congenital issues (structural conditions you are born with, such as an unusually small or misshapen kidney)
- The precise percentage contribution of each individual kidney to your overall health (split kidney function)
- Structural kidney changes linked to vesicoureteral reflux (where urine flows backward from the bladder)
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Patient Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this test and what to expect
3 questions
The 2 to 4-hour gap is vital because the DMSA tracer needs time to travel through your bloodstream and bind securely to the healthy cells inside your kidneys.Taking the pictures too early would result in a blurry or unreadable scan.
Reviewed 31 May 2026
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Once the radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist has carefully analysed the images to calculate your split function and check for scars, a full report is usually sent to your consultant within 1 to 2 weeks.
Reviewed 31 May 2026
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You can bring an adult friend or relative to the hospital for support, but due to strict ionising radiation regulations in the UK, they cannot stay inside the scanning room while the camera is active unless they are a parent or carer accompanying a child. Pregnant individuals and children under 16 should not accompany you to the hospital.
Reviewed 31 May 2026
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