Imaging referrals: ultrasound, X-ray and MRI, and what to expect

Your doctor has recommended imaging — maybe an ultrasound, X-ray or MRI — and handed you (or sent you) a referral. What actually happens at each scan, how should you prepare, and what will it cost?

This guide walks through the three most common imaging referrals in Australia: how each test works, what to do before you go, and what to expect on the day.

What an Imaging Referral Actually Is

An imaging referral is a formal request from a practitioner — usually your GP or specialist — for a radiology provider to perform a specific scan and interpret the results. The referral specifies:

• The scan type (ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, CT and so on) and the body region
• The clinical reason — the symptoms or question the scan is meant to answer
• Your details and the referrer's details (name, registration and provider number)
• Any urgency — routine or urgent

In Australia, GPs can request Medicare-eligible imaging for most everyday situations — sprains, suspected fractures, abdominal pain, pregnancy scans and more. Telehealth GPs can issue these too: at NewTeleDoc Medical, imaging referrals are available online from $25, sent digitally so you can book straight in with a radiology provider.

Ultrasound: No Radiation, Real-Time Images

What it is: sound waves (the same technology as sonar) build a live picture of your organs, soft tissues, blood flow or a pregnancy. There's no radiation, which is why ultrasound is the workhorse of pregnancy and abdominal imaging.

What to expect:

• You'll lie on an exam bed while a sonographer moves a handheld transducer over gel applied to your skin
• Takes roughly 15–30 minutes for most scans
• Painless — though pressure over a tender area can be briefly uncomfortable
• The sonographer can usually tell you if the images are technically adequate, but not your diagnosis — a radiologist interprets the images afterwards

Preparation varies by scan type:

• Abdominal scans (liver, gallbladder): often require fasting for 6+ hours beforehand — gas from digestion obscures the view
• Pelvic and early pregnancy scans: a full bladder is frequently required, as it acts as a "window" — you'll be told how much water to drink and when to stop
• Muscle, joint and thyroid scans: usually no preparation at all

X-Ray: Fast, Simple, Low Radiation

What it is: a quick scan using a small dose of radiation to image dense structures — bones, joints and the chest. It's usually the first-line imaging for suspected fractures, chest symptoms and some abdominal problems.

What to expect:

• You'll be positioned against the imaging plate — sometimes standing, sitting or lying, from a couple of angles
• The radiographer steps behind a screen and takes the image; each exposure lasts a fraction of a second
• Total appointment: typically 10–20 minutes
• Completely painless — you just need to hold still

Preparation: essentially none. Wear clothing without metal (zips, underwire), remove jewellery in the imaged area, and — critically — tell the radiographer if there's any chance you're pregnant, because radiation is avoided in pregnancy wherever possible.

MRI: The Detailed One, With a Few Quirks

What it is: a magnetic field and radio waves build extremely detailed images of soft tissues — brains, spinal cords, joints, ligaments and organs. No radiation involved. Some scans use a contrast dye (usually injected into a vein) to sharpen the picture.

What to expect:

• You lie on a sliding table inside a large, tube-shaped magnet — expect 20–60 minutes depending on the body region and whether contrast is used
• It's loud — rhythmic knocking and banging for the whole scan; you'll be offered earplugs or headphones
• You must hold still — movement blurs the images and may mean starting again
• Many centres can talk to you through an intercom, and some offer wider "open" machines or mild sedation for claustrophobia — ask when you book

Preparation and safety checks:

• Complete the safety questionnaire honestly — the magnet attracts metal. Pacemakers, aneurysm clips, some cochlear implants and certain metal fragments in eyes are contraindications
• Remove all metal: jewellery, watches, hairpins, some clothing with metallic threads
• For contrast scans, you may be asked to fast for a few hours and will have a small IV line placed
• Unless instructed otherwise, take your normal medications

What Will It Cost?

This varies more than pathology:

• Medicare covers eligible imaging, but unlike bulk-billed pathology, out-of-pocket gaps are common in radiology — many practices charge a gap fee on top of the Medicare rebate
• Bulk billing is still widely available — some radiology practices bulk bill X-rays and ultrasounds entirely; MRI access for GP-referred patients is limited to specific Medicare-eligible indications, and GP-referred MRIs outside those items are not Medicare-funded
• Ring before you book — quote the referral and ask: "Is this bulk billed, and what's the out-of-pocket estimate?" Reputable practices will tell you upfront

Your Day-of Checklist

• ✅ The referral — printed, or the digital referral on your phone
• ✅ Medicare card (and concession card if applicable)
• ✅ Previous imaging — old X-rays, MRIs or reports on disk/portal, as comparison images make new scans more informative
• ✅ Any required prep done — fasting or bladder instructions followed
• ✅ Arrive 10–15 minutes early for paperwork and safety questionnaires
• ✅ List of medications and implants for MRI safety screening

Afterwards: results don't come to you on the day — a radiologist reports the images, usually within 24–72 hours, and sends them to your referring doctor. Book a follow-up with your GP to go through them; at NewTeleDoc, results from a telehealth-issued referral come back to the consulting GP, who can discuss them with you in a follow-up consult. See our guide to getting an ultrasound referral online.