Which of the following is NOT a part of patient preparation for infection imaging with tagged white blood cells?

Infection imaging with tagged white blood cells is a specialized procedure aimed at locating infections within the body, often involving the use of radiolabeled leukocytes. Patient preparation is crucial for the accuracy of the imaging results.

Hydration before imaging, while generally important for many medical procedures to ensure optimal physiological function, is not an obligatory step specifically tied to the preparation for infection imaging with tagged white blood cells. This is mainly because the tagging process and the subsequent imaging typically do not require specific hydration protocols. Instead, the focus tends to be on ensuring that the patient is well-prepared based on other factors that directly influence the imaging results and patient safety.

Other aspects of preparation that are pertinent include the discontinuation of certain medications, which could interfere with the tagging process or the immune response; fasting, which ensures that the stomach is empty and prevents any interference from food in the imaging; and providing information about recent blood transfusions, as this is critical for assessing the patient's white blood cell count and their immune function at the time of imaging. These elements help establish a clear baseline and improve the efficacy of the imaging process, while hydration specifically is less impactful on the tagging of white blood cells.