Welcome to the Patient Information section of ICAVLonline. The ICAVL provides the following information as a service to the general public. This section is designed to help prospective patients stay educated and informed about noninvasive vascular technology and the importance of accredited laboratories.

The word vascular refers to our body's circulatory system -- the blood vessels which carry blood from the heart to the body's organs (the arteries), and from the organs back to the heart (the veins).

Vascular disease refers to the unhealthy changes which occur in our blood vessels as we age. Examples include plaque build-up in the arteries, varicose veins, and blood clots in the veins.

The medical specialty of vascular technology utilizes diagnostic ultrasound to generate images of blood flow within the veins and arteries. Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves, similar to the sonar that a ship uses to detect structures beneath the surface of the water. Vascular ultrasound can also be known as a Doppler or duplex study. For example, if your physician wants to make sure that you do not have a blood clot in your leg, he or she might order a venous duplex or venous Doppler examination.

Vascular ultrasound procedures are non-invasive, meaning they do not require the use of needles, dyes, radiation or anesthesia and are, therefore, relatively painless and harmless.

The information obtained through vascular ultrasound examinations is extremely helpful to physicians in diagnosing a variety of conditions related to cardiovascular disease, disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Early detection of life-threatening vascular diseases is possible through the use of noninvasive vascular testing techniques performed within vascular laboratories.

Vascular ultrasound's reliability in diagnosing conditions related to heart disease and stroke is encouraging as we strive for ways to reduce the more than 500,000 lives lost in the United States each year to these disorders. However, it is critical that the public realizes there are many facets that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on vascular ultrasound examinations. These factors include the skill of the technologist/sonographer performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician and quality assurance measures. In fact, poor ultrasound examinations often lead to inconvenient, redundant studies, misdiagnosis and even unnecessary tests or surgery.

ICAVL Accreditation - A "Seal Of Approval" Patients Can Count On.

Private offices, clinics and departments within hospitals that are accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) voluntarily submit to a review of their daily operations. By participating in the accreditation process, these medical facilities demonstrate a commitment to the performance of quality vascular testing and strive to meet nationally recognized standards. During the accreditation process, applicant vascular laboratories must submit documentation on every aspect of their daily operations. While completing the application, laboratories are required to identify and correct potential problems, revising protocols and validating quality assurance programs. Applications submitted, including samples of the vascular examinations performed, are reviewed by experts throughout the United States and Canada. Accreditation is granted only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with The ICAVL Standards. Once granted, ICAVL accreditation is valid for a period of three years, after which time the facility must undergo a repeat evaluation.

When scheduled for a vascular ultrasound examination, patients should inquire as to the accreditation status of the facility where their examination will be performed. Patients can rely on accreditation as an indication that the facility where their examination will be performed has proven a commitment to providing quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease. Patients can rest assured that accredited facilities have been carefully critiqued on all aspects of their operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of vascular technology. Find an accredited vascular laboratory in your area.

The ICAVL Certificate of Accreditation (sample shown here) is an easy way for patients to identify an ICAVL-accredited facility. >>

ICAVL accreditation is widely respected within the medical community, as illustrated by the support of eleven medical societies including physicians, technologists and sonographers. The specific medical specialties represented include cardiology, neurology, radiology, vascular medicine, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine and biology. In addition, Medicare and several private insurance carriers either require or strongly recommend that their providers of vascular ultrasound be accredited. However, patients should still remain vigilant in making sure that their vascular examinations are performed within accredited laboratories, because for many facilities/laboratories it remains a voluntary process.

Types Of Vascular Exams

CAROTID DUPLEX During a Carotid Duplex or Doppler examination, ultrasound is used to evaluate the carotid arteries located in the neck that feed the brain with blood. Gel is applied to the skin of the neck. A transducer is then placed on the gel-covered areas to obtain images and evaluate the blood flow in the arteries. Your doctor may order this test if you have physical examination findings or symptoms that suggest that you may have a blockage in the carotid artery.

Click here to find an accredited vascular laboratory in your area. Make sure the laboratory is accredited in Extracranial if you will be having a Carotid Duplex examination performed.

TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER (TCD) The blood vessels that supply the brain within the skull are evaluated by Transcranial Doppler. This examination is performed with a small transducer that is placed on the skin of the face and head. This exam takes approximately 60 minutes.
Click here to find an accredited vascular laboratory in your area. Make sure the laboratory is accredited in Intracranial if you will be having a Transcranial Doppler examination performed.

VENOUS DUPLEX During a Venous Duplex or Doppler examination, ultrasound is used to evaluate the veins that carry blood to the heart from the legs or arms. Gel is applied to the skin of the legs or arms. A transducer is then placed on the gel-covered areas to obtain images and evaluate blood flow in the veins. Your doctor may order this to evaluate the cause of pain or swelling in your legs or arms.

Click here to find an accredited vascular laboratory in your area. Make sure the laboratory is accredited in Venous if you will be having a Venous Duplex examination performed.

ARTERIAL DUPLEX During an Arterial Duplex or Doppler examination, ultrasound is used to evaluate the arteries that feed the arms and legs with blood. Gel is applied to the skin of the legs or arms. A transducer is then placed on the gel-covered areas to obtain images and evaluate the blood flow in the arms or legs. Your doctor may order this test to evaluate the cause of pain in the leg muscles with walking.

Click here to find an accredited vascular laboratory in your area. Make sure the laboratory is accredited in Arterial if you will be having an Arterial Duplex examination performed.

ARTERIAL PRESSURES AND WAVEFORMS Ultrasound and blood pressure cuffs are used to evaluate the arteries that supply the arms and legs with blood. Several blood pressure cuffs are placed at different segments on the patient's legs or arms. When inflated, the cuffs provide blood pressure readings as well as waveforms. This test will locate areas of blockage within the arteries. Your doctor may order this test to evaluate the cause of pain in the leg muscles with walking.

Click here to find an accredited vascular laboratory in your area. Make sure the laboratory is accredited in Arterial if you will be having an Arterial Pressures and Waveforms examination performed.

ABDOMINAL VASCULAR DUPLEX During an Abdominal Vascular Duplex or Doppler examination, ultrasound is used to evaluate the blood vessels that bring blood to and away from the abdominal organs. Gel is applied to the abdomen. A transducer is then placed on the gel-covered areas to obtain images and evaluate blood flow in the arteries and/or veins.
Click here to find an accredited vascular laboratory in your area. Make sure the laboratory is accredited in Visceral if you will be having an Abdominal Vascular Duplex examination performed.

The ICAVL is a nonprofit organization established to provide a mechanism for the accreditation of facilities that perform comprehensive testing for vascular disease with noninvasive testing modalities.

Excerpts of this information are taken from the Society for Vascular Ultrasound's five copyrighted patient education brochures, including "Vascular Testing and You." Vascular laboratories interested in ordering copies of patient education brochures from the Society of Vascular Ultrasound can obtain more information here.

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