What happens on scan day
The Tracer Injection: — Does It Hurt?
The part most people worry about is the injection. It is a small cannula — the same size used for a blood test — and the tracer itself causes no sensation once it is in.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- One small cannula — A single, thin cannula in your arm or hand is the only needle used for a PET scan.
- No sensation from the tracer — The tracer liquid enters silently. No burning, no taste, no feeling of warmth.
- Clears by end of day — The tracer breaks down and leaves your body naturally. No special precautions are needed afterwards.
- No needles during the scan — The cannula is removed before you go into the scanner. Nothing is injected while the images are taken.
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The tracer is given through a small cannula in your arm or hand — the same as a blood test needle. The cannula placement is a brief sting. Once it is in, you will not feel the tracer entering. There is no burning, no taste, and no heat. The tracer itself causes no sensation at all.
A whole-body PET-CT at CION costs from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
What happens, step by step, at the tracer injection?
Arrival and preparation
You are taken to a small preparation room. A brief check confirms your blood sugar is in the right range, because raised glucose affects where the tracer goes and can reduce image quality.
Cannula placement
A small cannula is placed in a vein on the back of your hand or in the crook of your arm. This is the only needle used. It feels the same as a blood test — a brief sting as it goes in, then nothing.
Tracer injection
The tracer is given through the cannula over a few seconds. You will not feel it. There is no burning, no metallic taste, and no warmth — none of the sensations people sometimes expect from an injection.
Quiet rest period
You sit in a reclining chair in a quiet, dimly lit room while your body absorbs the tracer. This is the longest part of your preparation. You will be asked to keep still, stay calm, and avoid your phone.
Cannula removed, scan begins
The cannula is removed before you enter the scanner. The scan itself involves no injections. You lie still in the machine while it takes images, usually for around twenty to thirty minutes.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
These are partner diagnostic centres within the CION network. Toll-free booking: 18002028726.
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Why do I have to sit quietly after the injection?
The tracer is absorbed by cells that are using energy. Movement and mental stimulation — including scrolling on your phone or having a conversation — cause muscles and brain tissue to take up the tracer in ways that can obscure the images.
The quiet rest period is a clinical step that directly affects the quality of your scan, not just a comfort measure. Staff will ask you to limit movement, avoid talking, and keep your hands still during this time.
If you feel anxious in enclosed or quiet spaces, tell the team before the injection. They can make arrangements to help you stay comfortable, and knowing in advance is more useful to them than trying to manage it mid-procedure.
Did you know?
The amount of tracer injected in a PET scan is measured in micrograms — a quantity too small to have any pharmacological effect on the body.
The radioactivity falls away rapidly on its own, which is why routine PET scans carry no restrictions on being near family members or young children for the rest of the day.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
Book a PET-CT at CION from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation, across 4 partner centres. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 64 more Preparing For and Having Your Scan Safely topics
Scan Day: What Actually Happens
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- Can You Drive Yourself Home After a PET-CT Scan?
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- Can a PET-CT Scan Be Done on the Same Day as Other Tests?
- Contrast in a PET-CT Scan: When It Is Used and Why
- Eating and Drinking After Your PET-CT Scan
- How Long Does a PET-CT Scan Take?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Painful?
- Is a PET-CT Scanner Closed Like an MRI? Claustrophobia Explained
- The Tracer Injection: Does It Hurt?
- What Happens If the Scan Cannot Be Completed?
- What If You Cannot Lie Still or Have Tremors?
- What to Expect Immediately After the Scan
- Why Was My Scan Repeated or Extended on the Day?
- Why You Have to Wait an Hour After the Injection
- Your PET-CT Scan Day: What Happens, Step by Step
Diabetes & Blood Sugar for PET-CT
- A Diabetic Patient's PET-CT Day Plan
- Best Appointment Time for a Diabetic PET Scan
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- Insulin and PET-CT: Timing Rules
- Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Found Before a Scan
- PET-CT Scan With Diabetes: The Complete Preparation Guide
- PET-CT With Steroid-Induced High Sugars
- What Blood Sugar Level Is Needed for a PET-CT Scan?
- What Happens If Your Sugar Is High on the Day?
- What to Eat the Day Before if You Have Diabetes
Preparing for Your Scan
- A Printable PET-CT Preparation Card
- Can I Drink Water Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can I Have a PET-CT Scan During My Period?
- Can I Take My Regular Medicines Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can You Reschedule a PET-CT Scan?
- Cold Weather, Shivering and Brown Fat: Why You Are Asked to Stay Warm
- Fasting Before a PET-CT Scan: How Long and Why
- How to Prepare for a PET-CT Scan: The Complete Checklist
- Preparing a Very Elderly or Frail Person for a PET-CT
- Preparing a Wheelchair-Bound or Bedridden Patient
- Preparing for a PSMA, DOTATATE or FAPI PET-CT
- Should I Avoid Exercise Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine Before a PET-CT Scan
- What Happens If You Break the Fast by Mistake?
- What to Carry to Your PET-CT Appointment
- What to Eat the Day Before a PET-CT Scan
- What to Wear to a PET-CT Scan
- Why Your Kidney Function Test Is Needed Before a PET-CT
Radiation Safety & After-Scan Precautions
- Are You Radioactive After a PET-CT Scan?
- Being Around Pregnant Women After a PET-CT Scan
- Can I Hold My Child or Grandchild After a PET-CT Scan?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Cause Cancer?
- Cumulative Radiation From Repeated Scans
- Do You Need Precautions After a PSMA or DOTATATE Scan?
- Do You Need Separate Utensils or a Separate Toilet After a PET-CT?
- How Long Does the Tracer Stay in Your Body?
- How Long Should You Avoid Close Contact After a PET-CT?
- How Many PET-CT Scans Are Safe in a Year?
- How Much Radiation Is in a PET-CT Scan?
- Is PET-CT Radiation Different From Radiotherapy?
- Is the Radiation From a PET-CT Scan Dangerous?
- PET-CT Radiation Compared With CT, X-Ray and Natural Background
- Radiation Safety at Home After Your Scan: A Family Checklist
- Radiation Safety for Staff and Attendants at the Centre
- Simple Steps to Clear the Tracer Faster
- Travelling Home After a PET-CT Scan: Public Transport and Airports
Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the needle big?
No. The cannula used for a PET scan tracer is thin and short — the same gauge as a routine blood test or a standard drip needle. Most people find it no different from a blood draw. The sting lasts a second or two as it goes in, and then the cannula simply sits in place while the tracer is given. You will not feel it once it is positioned.
Will I feel the tracer going in?
You will not. The tracer is a small volume of colourless liquid and causes no burning, no taste, no pressure, and no warmth as it enters your vein. The only sensation in the whole process is the initial cannula placement, which lasts a moment. After that, there is nothing to feel from either the cannula or the tracer.
I am frightened of needles. What can I do?
Tell the team before you arrive, or as soon as you reach the preparation room. The staff who place these cannulas do it many times each day and are experienced with anxious patients. Looking away, breathing slowly, and a brief distraction while the needle goes in all make a real difference. Numbing cream applied beforehand is available at some centres — ask when you book whether this can be arranged for you.
Is the tracer radioactive? Is it safe?
The tracer is mildly radioactive, but the dose is very small and is chosen to be diagnostic without unnecessary exposure. In India it is regulated by the AERB — the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board — and the dose used in a standard PET scan falls within internationally accepted safety limits set by bodies including the IAEA and WHO. The radioactivity clears your body naturally within hours. You do not need to avoid family members or children after a routine scan.
What if they cannot find a vein?
This can happen, and it is more likely if you are dehydrated. Drinking the water your team advised before the scan helps. If a vein is difficult to find, the technician may try the other arm or a different site on the hand. In rare cases, a more experienced clinician is called to help. It adds a short delay but does not usually prevent the scan. Let the team know beforehand if you have had difficult cannulas in the past — they can plan accordingly.