Radiation free bone density testing in Calgary using EchoLight REMS ultrasound technology. No referral required, and your results are ready the same day. If you are looking for a bone density test in Calgary without a referral, this is what we offer.
Advanced Bone Health Services holds bone density clinics in Calgary using Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry, known as REMS. The scan measures bone mineral density with ultrasound rather than X-ray, so there is no ionising radiation involved at any stage.
Where the Calgary clinic is held
Our Calgary scanning clinic is hosted at UC Baby Calgary, 301 14th Street NW, Suite 206, in the Hillhurst and Kensington area of northwest Calgary.
Advanced Bone Health Services operates as a mobile clinic on a rotating national schedule rather than a permanent walk in facility. Calgary dates are announced in advance and appointment slots are limited, so we recommend booking as soon as a date is released. Your confirmation email includes the exact suite, entrance and parking details.
Check the next available Calgary clinic date and book your appointment
Why some Calgarians look for an alternative
Bone mineral density testing is publicly funded in Alberta, and for many people that route works perfectly well. There are two situations where Calgarians commonly look for another option.
The first is the scanning interval. Under Alberta’s Schedule of Medical Benefits, health service code X128, patients are generally funded for one bone mineral density scan every two years. Patients assessed as high risk may be scanned more frequently when referred by a specialist. If you have recently started or changed osteoporosis treatment, or you simply want to see whether your bone health is moving in the right direction sooner than the two year mark, a radiation free scan gives you a way to check in between.
The second is the referral itself. A publicly funded scan needs a requisition from your physician. If you do not currently have a family doctor in Calgary, or you would rather not wait for an appointment simply to obtain a form, you can book a REMS scan with us directly.
We are not a replacement for your physician or for the public system, and we encourage every patient to share their results with their own doctor.
Bone scan, bone density scan and DEXA are not the same thing
These terms are used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they describe different procedures. It is worth knowing the difference before you book anything.
| Test | What it involves | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear medicine bone scan | A radioactive tracer is injected, then images are taken. Used to investigate infection, injury or disease in the bone. | Around three hours |
| DEXA or DXA bone density scan | Low dose X-ray measures bone mineral density. The established reference standard for diagnosing osteoporosis. | 10 to 15 minutes |
| REMS bone density scan | Ultrasound signal analysis measures bone mineral density with no radiation, and also reports bone quality. | About 20 to 30 minutes |
If you are searching for a bone scan in Calgary because you are concerned about osteoporosis, the test you are looking for is a bone density scan rather than a nuclear medicine bone scan.
How REMS compares with DEXA
| Feature | REMS ultrasound scan | Conventional DEXA scan |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Ultrasound, radiofrequency signal analysis | Dual energy X-ray |
| Radiation exposure | None | Low dose ionising radiation |
| Referral required | Not in most cases | Yes, a requisition is needed |
| Scanning interval | Not limited by radiation dose | Publicly funded once every two years in Alberta for most patients |
| Results | Same day, emailed to you | Reported to the referring physician |
| Output | T score and Fragility Score | T score and Z score |
DEXA remains the long established reference standard for diagnosing osteoporosis. REMS is intended as an accessible, radiation free way to understand and monitor your bone health, particularly between funded scans.
What the scan involves
- The appointment takes 20 to 30 minutes
- You remain fully clothed throughout
- No injection and no contrast agent
- An ultrasound probe is passed over the lumbar spine and hip
- No radiation exposure and no enclosed scanner
- Your report is emailed to you the same day
The report gives you a T score, the standard measure used to identify normal bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis, together with a Fragility Score reflecting the internal structure and quality of the bone rather than density alone. You can share the full report with your family physician, rheumatologist or endocrinologist.
Who should consider a bone density scan
Bone loss develops silently, and for many people a fracture is the first indication that anything is wrong. A scan is worth considering if any of the following apply to you.
- Women who are postmenopausal or approaching menopause
- Adults aged 50 and over
- Anyone who has broken a bone from a minor fall
- A family history of osteoporosis or hip fracture
- Long term corticosteroid use, for example prednisone
- Rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease, thyroid or kidney conditions
- Low body weight, or a history of smoking or high alcohol intake
- An existing diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis where you want to track changes between funded scans
What a private bone density scan costs in Calgary
A single REMS scan at our Calgary clinic is $175. If two scans are booked together, for example one for yourself and one for a partner or a parent, each scan is $150.
That covers the appointment itself, the scan of your hip and lumbar spine, your fragility score, and the written report, which is emailed to you the same day. Current offers are listed on our promotions page.
Why the funded scan is not open to everyone in Alberta
A publicly funded bone density test in Alberta costs you nothing, and for many people that is the right route. The two year interval is covered further up this page. The condition people are less often told about is age.
Under the provincial health service code for bone mineral density testing, the test may only be claimed for patients 50 years of age or older, unless the referral comes from a qualifying specialist such as endocrinology, rheumatology, orthopedics, internal medicine or nephrology. If you are under 50 and your family doctor orders the test, it is not covered.
Testing more often than once every two years requires a specific clinical reason to be recorded on the requisition, such as monitoring during a bisphosphonate holiday, a fracture that happened while on treatment, a transplant, hyperparathyroidism, or prednisone taken for longer than twelve months.
Together those rules leave several groups without a funded option:
- You are under 50 and want a baseline reading now, and your family doctor is the one ordering it
- You are over 50, your last funded scan was less than two years ago, and something has changed since
- You have started treatment and want to know whether it is working before the two years are up, without one of the listed clinical reasons
Waiting times for the funded test also vary by region, and in some areas an appointment can take a long time to come through.
The scanner we use
Our clinics use the EchoS system, which measures bone density with sound waves rather than X-rays. The device was cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration through its 510(k) route in 2018, and it is licensed by Health Canada as a Class II medical device under licence number 107617.
Your report sets out your bone density readings for the hip and lumbar spine along with a fragility score, in a form your physician can review. Treatment decisions stay with them.
Frequently asked questions about bone density scans in Calgary
Do I need a referral for a bone density scan in Calgary?
No referral is required in most cases for a REMS scan with Advanced Bone Health Services. A publicly funded DEXA scan in Alberta does require a requisition from your physician. If you are unsure which route suits your circumstances, contact us before booking.
How often can I have a bone density scan in Alberta?
Under Alberta’s Schedule of Medical Benefits, health service code X128, most patients are funded for one bone mineral density scan every two years. Patients considered high risk may be scanned more often when referred by a specialist. Because REMS uses no radiation, it is not limited by dose accumulation, so it can be used for monitoring between funded scans where your physician considers that appropriate.
Where can I get a bone density test in Calgary without a referral?
With us. Our Calgary clinic is a private service that you book directly, so no requisition is needed. A publicly funded DEXA test in Alberta does require a referral from your physician.
Is a REMS bone scan safe?
The scan uses ultrasound and involves no ionising radiation. There is no radiation dose to accumulate, which is what makes it suitable for repeat monitoring.
How long does the appointment take?
20 to 30 minutes. You stay fully clothed and no preparation is needed beforehand.
When will I get my results?
Your report is emailed to you the same day, rather than being sent only to a referring physician.
Where exactly is the Calgary clinic located?
Scans are held at UC Baby Calgary, 301 14th Street NW, Suite 206, in northwest Calgary. The exact suite, entrance and parking details are confirmed in your booking email.
How often does the Calgary clinic run?
Advanced Bone Health Services operates a rotating national schedule and returns to Calgary periodically. Dates are announced in advance and slots are limited, so early booking is recommended.
Do you scan anywhere else in Alberta?
Yes. We also hold clinics in Edmonton at two locations and in Red Deer. All Alberta dates are listed on our locations page.
How much does a bone density scan cost in Calgary?
A single REMS scan is $175, or $150 per scan when two are booked together. That includes the appointment, the scan, your fragility score and the written report the same day.
I am under 50. Can I get a funded bone density scan in Alberta?
Usually not through your family doctor. The provincial code limits the claim to patients 50 years of age or older, unless the referral comes from a qualifying specialist such as endocrinology, rheumatology or orthopedics. There is no age restriction on booking with us, which is why people who want an earlier reading often book privately.
How much does a DEXA scan cost in Alberta if I pay for it myself?
Prices vary between private providers. Our scan is $175 for a single appointment. REMS is a different method from DEXA, using sound waves rather than X-rays, and it does not need a requisition from a physician.
Book your Calgary bone density scan
Appointments for each Calgary clinic date are limited and usually fill quickly.
Book your bone density scan in Calgary
You may also want to read about how REMS technology works, what osteoporosis is, or who needs a bone mineral density test. You can also view all our clinic locations across Canada.