HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Medical Investigation Unit
The Medical Investigation Unit (MIU) does cardiac (heart), pulmonary (lungs) and vascular (leg artery) tests.
The MIU is open on Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm Appointments are only by referral. Urgent tests can be requested and they can usually be done.
When you arrive at the hospital for a test, you must report to the front reception desk.
The MIU performs the following tests:
- resting ECG (electrocardiograph)
- exercise tolerance test (ETT or exercise ECG)
- spirometry (basic lung function testing)
- pulmonary function testing (specialised lung function testing)
- Holter monitor (24-hour ECG recording)
- event monitor (a heart monitor worn for a week or more)
- 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
- ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) doppler testing (testing the arterial blood supply in the legs)
- exercise ABPI doppler testing (before and after exercise)
- echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) which is on Level 1 of the Clinical Services Block).
Referrals
Your general practice team can refer you to the MIU for resting ECG testing, exercise tolerance testing, spirometry, blood pressure monitoring and ABPI doppler testing.
Hospital doctors must refer you for pulmonary function testing, Holter monitors, event monitors, exercise ABPI doppler testing and echocardiograms. Your general practice team can write to them to request these tests.
Contact information
Appointments: (03) 687‑2233.
MIU nurse or technician: (03) 687‑2758.
Written by the Medical Investigation Unit, South Canterbury DHB. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.
SourcesReview key: HIMIU-306689
