Bone Density Scan Winnipeg
Advanced Bone Health Services holds radiation free bone density clinics in Winnipeg using REMS, a scanning method that measures bone strength with sound waves instead of X-rays. The appointment takes 20 to 30 minutes, there is no radiation at any point, and you receive your results on the same day.
Our Winnipeg clinic runs at UC Baby, 846 St Mary’s Road. Because our team travels on a rotating schedule across Canada, Winnipeg dates are released in blocks and the slots fill quickly. Once your appointment is confirmed, the exact suite details and parking information are sent to you by email.
Book your Winnipeg appointment or see all our clinic locations across Canada.
How bone density testing works in Manitoba
Manitoba handles bone density differently from most provinces. Rather than leaving testing to individual clinics, the province runs it as a single centralised service, the Manitoba Bone Density Program, which reports through the Chair of the Department of Radiology at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to Manitoba Health. That one program sets the clinical criteria, decides where the equipment sits and standardises how every report is written.
Publicly funded testing is done on DXA machines at approved sites and requires a requisition from a physician. Since 1 September 2012, Manitoba reports the result as a ten year risk of a major osteoporotic fracture, calculated with the Canadian version of the FRAX tool:
| Reported category | What it means |
|---|---|
| Low risk | Under 10 per cent chance of an osteoporotic fracture in the next ten years |
| Moderate risk | 10 to 19 per cent chance |
| High risk | Above 20 per cent chance |
Manitoba also goes a step further than the standard calculation. The province adjusts the FRAX output for lumbar spine bone density, when the spine T score sits 1 standard deviation or more below the femoral neck, and for daily glucocorticoid dose. It holds the largest population based database of clinical DXA results anywhere in the world, which is part of why its reporting is unusually detailed.
Why people in Winnipeg book a private REMS scan
Our Winnipeg patients usually fall into one of these groups:
- They are under 50 or premenopausal and want a baseline reading now, rather than waiting until they reach the age where testing is routinely offered
- They already had a publicly funded scan and want to check their progress sooner than the next one is scheduled
- They are on treatment or an exercise programme and want more frequent monitoring to see whether it is working
- They would rather avoid X-ray exposure, particularly if they have had several scans already
- They cannot get a requisition because they do not meet the clinical criteria, but they have a family history of fractures and want to know where they stand
- They want the result the same day rather than waiting for a report to reach their doctor
You can book with us directly. Our clinic is a private service, so no requisition is needed from your side, and the report is written so that you can hand it to your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
REMS compared with DXA
| REMS at our Winnipeg clinic | DXA at a provincial site | |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation | None, the scan uses sound waves | Low dose X-ray |
| Requisition | Not required, you book directly | Required from a physician |
| Appointment length | 20 to 30 minutes | Usually 10 to 15 minutes |
| Results | Same day | Sent to the referring provider |
| Sites measured | Hip and lumbar spine | Hip and lumbar spine |
| Fragility score | Included, an additional measure of bone quality | Not reported |
| Safe to repeat often | Yes, there is no cumulative exposure | Repeat timing is governed by clinical criteria |
REMS is not a replacement for the provincial program and it does not remove the need to speak to your doctor about treatment. It is a way to get a measurement when you want one, without radiation and without waiting for a requisition. You can read more about how REMS technology works and about the bone mineral density test itself.
What happens at your Winnipeg appointment
- You stay fully clothed. There is no need to change, and no injection or dye is used
- Our technologist scans your hip and lumbar spine with a handheld probe
- The whole visit takes 20 to 30 minutes from arrival to finish
- You go through your reading with our team before you leave, and receive your written report the same day
- The report includes your bone density readings and a fragility score, in a format your doctor can work from
A fuller walkthrough is on our page covering what to expect at a REMS appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral for a bone density scan in Winnipeg?
Not for our clinic. You book the appointment with us directly. A physician requisition is what the provincial program requires for publicly funded DXA testing, which is a separate route.
Where exactly is the Winnipeg clinic held?
At UC Baby, 846 St Mary’s Road, Winnipeg. We hold our clinics inside trusted partner facilities rather than running a permanent site of our own, and the suite and parking details are confirmed by email once you book.
How often do you come to Winnipeg?
We travel on a rotating schedule and visit major centres every few months. Dates are released in blocks and tend to fill quickly, so it is worth booking as soon as a date opens.
Is REMS safe if I have already had several X-ray scans?
Yes. REMS uses sound waves rather than ionising radiation, so there is no cumulative dose to consider and no limit on how often it can be repeated.
How long does the scan take?
Between 20 and 30 minutes for the full appointment, including going through your reading with you.
Will my doctor accept the report?
The report gives your bone density readings for the hip and lumbar spine along with a fragility score, in a form your family doctor or nurse practitioner can review. Treatment decisions remain with them.
I am in my forties. Is it too early to get a scan?
No. A reading taken now becomes the baseline that every later scan is compared against, which is exactly what is missing when testing starts later in life. Manitoba’s public reporting does not calculate fracture risk for premenopausal women or men under 50, so a private baseline is often the only way to get that starting point.
Can I book in Winnipeg if I live elsewhere in Manitoba?
Yes. There is no residency restriction on booking, and patients travel in from outside the city when a clinic date suits them.
Book your Winnipeg bone density scan
Winnipeg clinic dates are limited and released in blocks. If you would like a radiation free reading of your bone strength with a same day result, book your appointment or call us on +1 (877) 452-1115.
You may also want to read about why early osteoporosis screening matters, or see our clinics in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Metro Vancouver.
Reference sources
Manitoba Bone Density Program, Province of Manitoba: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/primarycare/providers/chronicdisease/bonedensity/
Bone Density Testing Information for Professionals, Province of Manitoba: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/primarycare/providers/chronicdisease/bonedensity/report.html