Echocardiography Laboratory Requirements
This document provides recommendations for resources required by echocardiography
laboratories to provide a laboratory environment that is safe for patients and staff.
Adult Transthoracic Lab Setup
Staff:
 Echocardiologists (Medical Director)
 Qualified sonographers (Technical Director)
 Clerical staff
 Lab/Office Manager
 Biomedical services
 Information Technology support staff/service
 Housekeeping staff
Rooms:
 Room sizes must meet the requirement of the “Guidelines for the Provision of
Echocardiography in Canada.” The standard for the minimum size of a transthoracic
echo room is 15m2 within the patient care area.
 A hand wash sink is required in the room.
Equipment:
 Ultrasound machines – current updates applied
 Probes – 3.5Mhz, 5Mhz
 Blood pressure cuff and stethoscope/ Vital Signs Monitor
 Echo beds with cutouts
 Ergonomic chair for sonographer
 Contrast agitator machine
 Refrigerator to store contrast
 Work stations/desk
 Photocopier/fax machine
 Computers
 Phones or emergency call bell system in all rooms
 Emergency cart
 Medical oxygen supply (portable tank or piped in) with flow meter
 Lamps
Supplies:
 Ultrasound gel
 Electrodes
 Alcohol wipes
 T spray or other transducer cleaner
 Sanitizing wipes (for bed, B/P cuff, etc.)
 IV angiocaths for contrast and agitated saline injections
 3 way stopcock
 Medical tape
 Tegaderm
 Gauze 2x2 and 4x4
 Tourniquet
 IV Solutions (Normal saline and D5W)
 IV pole
 IV tubing
 10 and 3 ml syringes
 Needles (18/21 gauge)
 Contrast
 Sterile probe covers
 Oxygen tubing
 Oxygen face masks
 Office supplies and stationery
 Laundry basket(s)
 Hand sanitizer
 Medical exam gloves (latex free)
 Sharps containers
 Waste baskets
 Isolations gowns
 Face mask (N95)
 Eye protection (safety glasses; goggles; face shields; visors attached to masks)
Medications:
 Anaphylaxis kit
Linen:
 Bed sheets
 Pillow cases
 Paper cover for procedure bed
 Patient gowns
 Towels
 Isolation gowns
Paperwork:
 Reports
 Requisitions
 Worksheet
Transesophageal Echo Lab Setup **Additional to the TTE lab
Staff:
 Registered Nurse or Anesthesia Assistant
 Anesthesiologist
Room:
 The “Guidelines for the Provision of Echocardiography in Canada” recommends the
TEE room size is larger than the transthoracic echo room (15m2) in order to
accommodate potential emergency situations. CCN recommends a minimum of
18.6m2.
 A sink that is large enough to rinse TEE probes and a cleaning station (with
ventilation) separate from the scanning room.
 Locked and secure cabinet for anesthetic agents and narcotics.
Equipment:
 Ultrasound machine with 3D capabilities
 TEE probes
 TEE probe cleaning station
 12 lead monitor
 Eye wash station
 Suction unit and equipment
 Storage unit for TEE probes
 Vital signs monitor (BP, HR, O2 sat)
Supplies:
 Medication cups
 K basins
 Denture cups
 Suction tubing
 Suction catheter
 Bite guards
 Airway protective devices
 Sterilization solution
Medications:
 Midazolam
 Fentanyl
 Propofol
 Naloxone
 Lidocaine viscous
 Lidocaine spray
 Resuscitation medications (kept in emergency cart)
Linen:
Same as above
Paperwork:
 TEE Consent forms
 TEE worksheet
 TEE pretest Anesthesia checklist
 Requisition with indication
 Medical history sheet
 Pre-printed orders
 Sterilization log
Stress Lab Setup ** Additional to the TTE lab
Staff:
 ECG Technician
 Registered Nurse or physician in the room
Room:
The stress lab requires the largest of the rooms due to the equipment required. A
patient care area of 15m2 – 18.6m2 is recommended. In order to provide a safe
environment for the patient, configuration of the space is important. A safe and easy
transfer from the treadmill to the bed is vital.
Equipment:
 Treadmill and 12 lead monitor
 Oxygen saturation monitor
 Special echo bed with cutouts
 IV infusion pump
 Recumbent bike with special echocardiography bed
 Ultrasound machine with stress program (DSE preset, TM and bike continuous
capture presets)
 Patient weigh scale
Supplies:
 Abrasive tape
 Razors
 IV 50 ml mini bags D5W and normal saline
 IV pump tubing with secondary lines
 Disposable boot covers
Linen:
Same as TTE
Medications:
 Dobutamine vials 250 mg/20 ml
 Atropine
 Metoprolol
 Nitroglycerine spray
 Naloxone
Paperwork:
 Worksheets for each of the stress procedures
 Dobutamine dosage guide
 Consent forms
 Pre-printed orders
 Requisitions with indications and history