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Information Area:
Many commonly asked questions
and answers can be found on this page regarding technical
aspects of the equipment employed by MSS
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General Question & Answers
How
accurate is the Heel scanner?
The CUBAClinical
MK2.6 heel ultrasound system, as used by Mobile
Screening Services, has a reported accuracy error
of between 2.6% and 4.0%. This compares favourably
with hospital based DEXA systems which range from
2.5% at the forearm, 5.0% for hip and 10.0% at
the spine. 
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How
do DEXA scan differ from heel ultrasound?
DEXA scanner like
the heel ultrasound scanners are both densitometers,
i.e. they report on an individuals bone density
status. The DEXA does this at the 3 fracture
sites whereas ultrasound uses a surrogate site
-the heel, as its scanning region.
DEXA measures bone very accuratly at an atomic
level to quantify the amount of mineral present,
however it is unable to report on any aspect
of the bones microstructure. (i.e it measures
density only)
Ultrasound measures at the molecular level and
reports on both bones mineral and structural
contents.
(i.e.density and microstructure both measured)
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Will
I be advised to purchase 'bone-building' products
as a result of my assessment?
NO
Mobile Screening Services specialise in the provision
of low cost access to heel ultrasound scanning.
We have a strict policy of not promoting any drug,
food and mineral supplements
to any of our clients, irrespective of their bone
profile.
Clients
who are found to have a high fracture risk profile
are encouraged to discuss their result with their
family doctor or pharmacist for independent advice.
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Are
the staff performing the assessments medically
qualified?
NO
Our Staff are specialist densitometry technicians
who are qualified to perform accurate densitometry
scans using the CUBAClinical Ultrasound Scanner.
Our role is to provide low cost access to ultrasound
bone assessments to individuals who are unable
to afford the equivalent tests through private
hospitals and clinics and where NHS resouce is
not available.
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Is
the Heel scanner able to inform me on my risk
of hip fracture?
YES
The heel ultrasound scanner has been the subject
of independent medical investigations since 1984.The
latest publication appeared in the Journal the
Lancet in January 2004. This independent study
was performed by the Medical research Council
of Great Britain on a population of 14,824 men
and women aged between 42-84 years.
They concluded that ultrasound predicts fracture
by the same degreeas does DEXA technology, i.e
a doubling of the fracture risk for every 1SD
decline in ultrasound measurement
parameter (BUA)
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