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, most Everlab members are scanned well within that limit: members on Everlab's 12-month Protocol program have a DEXA scan at the start and again at the 6-month mark, and members on the annual Diagnostics program are scanned once a year at their retest. 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.
Steven is a specialist general practitioner, preventative health consultant, medical educator, healthcare entrepreneur and co-founder of Everlab. With 15+ years of clinical experience, and driven by his passion for preventive care outcomes, Steven is dedicated to personalised and innovative approaches to enhance well-being, extend human lifespan, and improve healthspan.
