Do You Need a Referral for a DEXA Scan in Victoria?

Yes, for the body composition component. Under Victorian Department of Health radiation licensing rules, providers must hold a written referral before performing a whole-body DEXA composition scan, unless it's done as part of a registered screening or research program.

Who can provide the referral

A referral for a body composition DEXA scan can come from:

• A GP or medical specialist (can refer for any clinically justified reason)
• A physiotherapist
• An accredited exercise physiologist
• An accredited practising dietitian or accredited sports dietitian

A GP referral isn't the only option. GPs and specialists have the broadest scope, but the allied health practitioner types above can also refer, provided the scan relates to a specific permitted clinical reason, such as monitoring fat and lean mass change after significant weight loss or bariatric surgery, or managing reduced muscle strength (sarcopenia).

How often you can be scanned

Victorian rules also cap non-diagnostic whole-body composition scans at 4 per person in any 12-month period. In practice, Everlab members are scanned well within that limit: members on the Diagnostic program have a single DEXA scan, and members on the Protocol program have a DEXA scan at the start and again as part of their structured re-testing. A separate bone density (BMD) scan has its own medical referral requirement and isn't subject to the same 4-scan limit.

What this means if you book with Everlab

You don't need to organise this yourself. Everlab's clinical governance, overseen by Dr Steven Lu, our Chief Medical Officer, sets the referral and eligibility checks our team runs before every DEXA appointment, so you're not the one who needs to track eligible referrer types or permitted indications. This is arranged as part of booking your DEXA scan.

Book your DEXA scan with Everlab and this is handled for you before your appointment.