Someone has written "USG" on a prescription and you are working out where to go. Or you are pregnant and want the scans done somewhere you can also see the doctor. Or your GP wants your kidneys checked and would rather the report came from a lab they trust.
This is a plain guide to ultrasound in Sonipat as we do it at Saroj Hospital: which scans we run, what each is for, how to prepare, who reads the pictures, and what happens to the report. It is written for patients and for the referring doctors who send them.
Our diagnostics department in Sonipat houses the ultrasound alongside the NABL-accredited pathology laboratory, on Dividing Road between Sectors 14 and 15, near Pardeep Sangwan Kothi. Most scans are read and reported the same day.
What an ultrasound is, briefly
An ultrasound uses sound waves — not radiation — to build a moving picture of what is inside. It is painless, safe in pregnancy, and safe to repeat. A probe with gel is moved over the skin; for some early-pregnancy and pelvic scans a slim vaginal probe gives a far clearer picture, and your doctor will explain when that applies.
The NHS explanation of ultrasound scans covers the general principle if you want more background.
The scans we do
Whole abdomen
Liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, bladder and the large vessels. The usual first scan for abdominal pain, abnormal liver tests, suspected gallstones, or a general check-up.
Preparation: nothing to eat for about six hours beforehand, so the gallbladder is full and the bowel is quiet. Water is fine, and a full bladder helps.
KUB — kidney, ureter, bladder
The scan for stones. It shows the kidneys, whether they are swollen behind a blockage, and the bladder. Together with a urine test it is how most stones are diagnosed here — see the early signs of a kidney stone if that is what brought you.
Preparation: a full bladder. Drink two or three glasses of water an hour before and do not empty it.
Pelvis
Uterus and ovaries in women; bladder and prostate in men. Used for irregular periods, pelvic pain, PCOS assessment, fibroids, and prostate size.
Preparation: a full bladder for the abdominal approach. A vaginal scan needs an empty one, and gives a much clearer view of the ovaries — your doctor will say which is right.
Obstetric — pregnancy
The dating scan, the NT scan, the anomaly scan, growth scans and Doppler. Our list of scans during pregnancy explains each one by month, and the eighth-month scan has its own guide because its name confuses so many people.
Preparation: a full bladder for early abdominal scans; nothing special later in pregnancy.
One thing to state plainly. Sex determination is illegal in India. Our obstetric ultrasound is PC-PNDT compliant, no scan here will tell you the sex of your baby, and staff are legally obliged to refuse the question. Please do not ask.
Who reads your scan
This is the question patients rarely ask and referring doctors always do.
At Saroj Hospital, ultrasound is performed and reported by Dr. Deepa Aggarwal, MBBS, DGO, DMRD, DNB (Radiology). She holds a postgraduate qualification in radio-diagnosis as well as in obstetrics and gynaecology, which is an unusual combination. For a woman having a pregnancy or pelvic scan, it means the doctor reading the pictures is the same one who can act on them, in the same room, on the same visit.
She sees patients every day, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM and 5:00–7:00 PM.
What a level 2 ultrasound costs in Sonipat, and why we do not print a figure
The anomaly scan — the level 2 or TIFFA scan at 18 to 22 weeks — is the one people most often ask about, and the honest answer is that charges depend on what the scan needs to include, whether a Doppler is added, and whether it is part of a wider antenatal package.
We do not publish a number that could be wrong by the time you read it. Tap Book, or call reception, and you will get the actual figure for your situation along with a slot. The same applies to every scan on this page.
When ultrasound is not the right test
Ultrasound is the first-line scan for most abdominal, pelvic, kidney and pregnancy questions, but it has limits worth knowing before you book. It does not see well through bowel gas or bone, so it is not the test for lungs, brain or spine. Very small kidney stones can hide, and a normal scan does not always rule one out. And for some questions — a complex mass, a suspected bleed, certain cancers — the doctor will go straight to CT or MRI, which we will say plainly rather than scan for the sake of it.
If your referral asks for a CT or MRI, an ultrasound here is not a substitute. If it asks for an ultrasound and the scan raises a question ultrasound cannot settle, the report will say what the next step should be.
What to bring, and what happens after
Bring: your prescription or referral, any previous scan reports so today's can be compared with them, and — for pregnancy scans — your antenatal card.
Afterwards: most reports are ready the same day, often within the hour. For patients referred by another doctor, the report is written for that doctor to act on, and you take it back to them. If the scan was requested by one of our own doctors, the conversation usually happens straight away.
For referring GPs and clinics: reports follow standard radiology format, and the pathology laboratory in the same building is NABL-accredited, so blood work and imaging can be done in one visit and returned together.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a doctor's prescription for an ultrasound?
For most scans, yes — a referral says what to look for, which makes the report useful. For pregnancy scans booked through our own gynaecology OPD, the doctor orders them as part of your care. If you are unsure, call reception and ask.
Is there an ultrasound centre in Sonipat that does same-day reports?
Yes — most scans here are reported the same day, often within the hour, because the radiologist is on site rather than reading remotely. Complex or repeated scans may take a little longer.
Can I eat before an ultrasound?
It depends on the scan. Abdominal scans need about six hours without food so the gallbladder can be seen. Kidney, pelvic and pregnancy scans do not, but most need a full bladder. Reception will tell you the preparation for your specific scan when you book.
Is ultrasound safe during pregnancy?
Yes. It uses sound waves, not radiation, and decades of use have shown no harm to babies. Scans are done when there is a reason, which is why optional 3D and 4D scans are not part of routine care here.
Book an appointment
If you have a prescription for a scan, or you are pregnant and want your ultrasound read by the doctor managing your care, book a slot. The scan, the report and — where needed — the consultation happen in one building, on one visit.
Book an appointment, or call reception on +91 96676 67011. The WHO's maternal health guidance is a useful general reference on what antenatal imaging is for.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Deepa Aggarwal, MBBS, DGO, DMRD, DNB (Radiology), Saroj Hospital, Sonipat.
This article is general health information, not medical advice. For guidance about your own health, please consult a doctor.
Consult Dr. Deepa Aggarwal
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