Table 3.

Recommended nuclear cardiology practices regardless of whether COVID-19 cases are low, intermediate, or high in a community

Maintain extra distancing in waiting areas and corridors in the laboratory

Enhanced cleaning of imaging spaces and preparation areas between patients.

Allow extra time between cases for enhanced cleaning and maintenance of social distancing

Lengthen work hours as needed to allow extra time and physical distance between cases and to maintain access to testing if staffing is available

Dedicated room for exercise testing, ideally with laminar flow ventilation and appropriate air filters

Stress-first/stress-only SPECT MPI protocols when possible

Encourage two-day SPECT MPI protocols (with weight-based radiotracer dosing) to enhance social distancing and improve laboratory efficiency when feasible

PET MPI in preference to SPECT MPI when pharmacologic stress is planned, and PET is available

For PET-CT and SPECT-CT cases, routine review of the CT images as soon as possible

Staff, patients, and visitors should be encouraged to be fully vaccinated, practice frequent hand washing, and avoid large gatherings