Liver stiffness (fibrosis)
- Measured in kPa
- Range 1-75 kPa
- Identifies scarring and stiffening of liver tissue
OUR SERVICE
FibroScan.
A 10-minute non-invasive scan that measures liver stiffness and liver fat — no needles, no biopsy, no recovery time.
About this
What it is.
FibroScan is a quick, painless ultrasound-based scan that gives a clear picture of liver health in a few minutes. It is the gold-standard non-invasive test for assessing both liver stiffness (fibrosis) and liver fat (steatosis) — the two markers that matter most in metabolic and alcohol-related liver disease.
Traditionally, the only way to assess fibrosis was a liver biopsy — invasive, uncomfortable, and not without risk. FibroScan gives consultants the same level of insight in 10 minutes with no needles and no recovery time.
At Checkpoint, FibroScan can be booked as a standalone scan or layered onto any Checkpoint assessment. Every scan is reviewed by a consultant and the result is explained to you in plain English on the day.
Who books this
Who it’s for.
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Metabolic risk
You have raised BMI, type 2 diabetes, or elevated cholesterol and want to know if your liver is keeping up
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Abnormal liver bloods
You have had a borderline or elevated ALT, AST, or GGT result and want a clearer answer than 'recheck in six months '
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Family history
Liver disease runs in your family and you want a baseline before any symptoms appear
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Lifestyle baseline
You drink above the recommended weekly limit, or you want a hard number on where your liver sits today
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Known liver condition
You're already managing NAFLD, MASLD, or another condition and want a non-invasive way to track progression year on year
What’s measured
What FibroScan measures.
Liver fat (steatosis)
- Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP)
- Measured in dB/m
- Quantifies fatty infiltration
NAFLD / MASLD risk
- Combined assessment of stiffness and fat
- Stratifies risk by stage
- Early detection focus
Liver health score
- Combined summary metric
- Easy to track year-on-year
- Plain English interpretation in your report
On the day
What to expect.
10 minutesYou arrive, lie back, and a small probe is placed on the right side of your chest just below the ribs. Ten brief readings are taken in around 10 minutes — completely painless, no contrast, no injections. Your results are available immediately, reviewed by your consultant, and included in your written report.
Questions
Frequently asked.
Does FibroScan hurt?
Not at all. The probe is placed lightly against the skin and you feel a very small painless pulse with each reading. Most people describe it as completely unremarkable. There is no recovery time.
How is FibroScan different from a standard liver ultrasound?
A standard ultrasound shows the shape and structure of the liver but cannot directly measure stiffness or fat content. FibroScan uses transient elastography to give you actual numbers for fibrosis and steatosis — a far more useful result for assessing disease progression.
Do I need to fast before the scan?
Yes — we ask that you avoid food and drink (other than water) for three hours before your FibroScan. This gives the most accurate reading. We'll send you a reminder before your appointment.
How accurate is FibroScan compared to a biopsy?
For staging fibrosis and detecting significant steatosis, FibroScan correlates very strongly with biopsy results in published research, with the advantage of being non-invasive and repeatable. For most patients it is the preferred first-line test.
Ready to book
Ready to know where you stand?
Pathology is the fastest way to get a clear, evidence-based picture of your health today. Speak to our team and we’ll help you pick the right package — or build one around you.
