Our FDA-cleared liver assessment system is the scan used at MacArthur Gastroenterology to check for fat, stiffness, and early signs of liver damage. It is a point-of-care ultrasound device, cleared by the FDA in 2025, that uses gentle shear waves to measure your liver in about 15 to 20 minutes, without needles or sedation. Results are ready the same visit.
How Does Our Advanced Liver Scan Actually Work?
The scan uses a simple three-step process. First, a padded activator placed under your back generates gentle, steady shear waves that pass through your liver. Second, a handheld probe sweeps across your side to collect a 3D volume of measurements as those waves travel through the tissue. Third, your results appear in real time, ready to review with your care team before you leave.
Built-in AI guidance helps the person performing the scan locate your liver accurately and confirms that the wave signal is strong enough for a reliable reading, even in technically difficult cases. According to Sonic Incytes, the manufacturer, this approach can sample a substantially larger volume of liver tissue than older transient elastography methods.
What Does It Measure?
Our liver assessment system reports three main measurements:
- Liver stiffness, an indicator of scarring or fibrosis
- Attenuation, a measure of how much fat is present in the liver
- Liver fat fraction score, a fat-quantification measurement
This liver fat fraction score correlates strongly with MRI-PDFF, the imaging-based gold standard for measuring liver fat, and performs well at identifying clinically significant fat buildup. Independent confirmation of these figures in your own results is something your physician can discuss directly with you.
How Is It Different from Older Liver Elastography?
Earlier point-of-care elastography devices typically used a single-frequency vibration source and sampled a narrower column of tissue. Our system instead generates steady, multi-frequency shear waves and combines that with B-mode ultrasound imaging, which helps confirm the probe is positioned correctly over liver tissue rather than surrounding structures.
The FDA clearance was granted in August 2025, per reporting from AuntMinnie, a widely read radiology industry publication. FDA 510(k) clearance means the device has met the requirements to be marketed as substantially equivalent to existing devices. It is a clearance, not a drug-style approval, and it applies to the device rather than to any medication.
Is the Scan Safe and Comfortable?
Yes. The scan is noninvasive, requires no needles, no sedation, and no radiation. Most patients describe it as similar to a routine ultrasound. You lie back comfortably while the activator pad and probe do the work, and the entire visit typically takes well under half an hour.
What Happens After Your Scan?
Your physician reviews your stiffness, attenuation, and liver fat fraction results with you the same day. These numbers help determine whether you are in an early stage of fat buildup, whether there is evidence of inflammation or scarring, and what a reasonable next step looks like, whether that is lifestyle changes, closer monitoring, or referral for additional testing.
Many insurance plans may cover the exam when it is medically appropriate. Coverage details vary by plan.
For background on the condition this scan is designed to help detect, see our overview of MASLD.
If you are considering scheduling a scan, our fatty liver screening page has more on getting started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the scan hurt?
No. It is noninvasive, requires no needles, and most patients find it comfortable, similar to a standard ultrasound.
Is this scan the same as an MRI?
No. It is a point-of-care ultrasound-based scan. The manufacturer reports its fat measurement correlates well with MRI-based imaging, but it is a different technology performed in-office rather than in a radiology suite.
How long does the scan take?
The scan itself typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes, with results available the same visit.
Is this article a substitute for medical advice?
No. This content is educational and general in nature, not medical advice. Talk with your physician about whether liver screening is right for you.
References
Dr. Ralph Peterson brings more than 40 years of medical experience to MacArthur Gastroenterology, including over 30 years specializing in gastroenterology and internal medicine. For more than 12 years, his practice has focused on treating viral hepatitis, achieving a cure rate above 90% in Hepatitis B and C cases. He is a sought-after speaker and medical presenter on colorectal cancer and on the treatment and cure of Hepatitis B and C.
Dr. Peterson has served on the advisory boards of leading pharmaceutical companies, including Gilead, and is also Medical Director of uFirst Health Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fatty liver disease awareness and education. He also leads research and development at NEXT2ME, LLC, where he invented the 1440 Vibrational Energetic Spray supplement line.
His work has taken him well beyond the clinic, including service as a medical team leader in Sierra Leone, evaluating medical needs across multiple provinces, and as a volunteer physician in Bohol, Philippines, training local providers in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease and hepatitis.
A former Master's Track & Field world record holder in the 4x100 relay, Dr. Peterson has been recognized by the American Cancer Society, 100 Black Men of America, 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for his outstanding service to men's health.
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
