DEXA Scan Cost in Delhi — Bone Density Test Price & Interpretation
A DEXA bone density scan costs ₹1,800–₹3,000 in Delhi (spine and hip, ₹2,000–₹2,500 typical). Dr. Sanjay Sachdev (MBBS, MNAMS) arranges the scan at an accredited centre near Friends Colony or Maharani Bagh with no markup, then converts the T-score into a fracture-risk assessment and a written treatment plan.
DEXA scan, lumbar spine + hip: ₹1,800–₹2,500
DEXA scan, single site: ₹1,200–₹1,800
Whole-body composition DEXA: ₹2,500–₹4,000
Vitamin D (25-OH): ₹1,200–₹1,800
Serum calcium: ₹200–₹350
PTH: ₹1,000–₹1,600
Kidney function: ₹600–₹900
Bone health panel (DEXA plus the above bloods): ₹4,500–₹6,500 including consultation
When the scan is worth its cost
The scan changes management when it tips a decision: starting or deferring bisphosphonates, correcting vitamin D and calcium first, checking for secondary causes such as hyperparathyroidism, coeliac disease or myeloma, or documenting a baseline before long-term steroids. In an asymptomatic 35-year-old with no risk factors, it changes nothing and is not recommended.
Understanding T-score and Z-score
T-score compares your bone density to a healthy young adult: ≥ -1.0 normal, -1.0 to -2.5 osteopenia, ≤ -2.5 osteoporosis. Z-score compares you to your age group and is the more relevant number under 50 — a low Z-score prompts a search for a secondary cause. Fracture risk also depends on age, weight, smoking, alcohol, steroid use and family history, which is what the FRAX calculation adds.
What happens after an abnormal scan
Osteopenia with low fracture risk: correct vitamin D and calcium, resistance exercise, review in 3–5 years. Osteoporosis or high FRAX risk: rule out secondary causes, then start treatment (oral or annual intravenous bisphosphonate, or denosumab where appropriate) with a defined review date and a plan for how long treatment continues. Treatment without that plan is where patients end up on the same drug for a decade unnecessarily.
Preparation and what the scan feels like
No fasting, no injection, no changing into a gown at most centres. You lie still for 10–15 minutes. Skip calcium supplements for 24 hours, leave metal zips, buckles and jewellery at home, and postpone if you have had barium or CT contrast in the past week. Radiation exposure is about a tenth of a chest X-ray.
Book a DEXA scan with interpretation
WhatsApp +91 98110 78388 with your age, menopause status, steroid or PPI use, any previous fractures and any past DEXA reports. The scan is booked at an accredited centre near Friends Colony East or Maharani Bagh at their published rate, followed by a consultation to turn the result into a plan.
Frequently asked
8 answers
How much does a DEXA scan cost in Delhi?+
A DEXA (DXA) bone density scan costs ₹1,800–₹3,000 in Delhi. A two-site scan of lumbar spine and hip — the standard for diagnosing osteoporosis — sits at the ₹2,000–₹2,500 mark at most South Delhi centres. Whole-body composition DEXA (for fat and lean mass) costs ₹2,500–₹4,000.
What is included in the DEXA scan cost?+
The scan itself, the radiologist's T-score and Z-score report, and (when booked through the clinic) Dr. Sachdev's interpretation with a FRAX fracture-risk estimate and a written treatment plan. Vitamin D, calcium and PTH blood tests are separate — usually ₹2,400–₹3,700 for the set.
Who should get a DEXA scan?+
Women from age 45–50 or at menopause, men from 65, anyone on steroids for more than three months, anyone with a low-impact ('fragility') fracture, people with rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease, hyperthyroidism, early menopause, long-term PPI or anti-epileptic use, or a parent who had a hip fracture.
How do I read a DEXA result?+
T-score of -1.0 or above is normal, -1.0 to -2.5 is osteopenia, and -2.5 or below is osteoporosis. Z-score compares you to your own age group and matters more in younger adults. A single T-score without vitamin D, calcium, kidney function and fracture-risk context is not enough to justify starting long-term bone medication.
How often should a DEXA scan be repeated?+
Every 2 years on treatment, or every 3–5 years for monitoring osteopenia. Annual scans are not useful — bone density changes slower than the scan's precision error, so yearly repeats mostly buy noise.
Is a DEXA scan safe? How much radiation?+
Very low — roughly one-tenth of a chest X-ray, and far less than a CT. It takes 10–15 minutes, you stay dressed, and nothing is injected. It is not done during pregnancy.
Do I need preparation for a DEXA scan?+
No fasting. Avoid calcium supplements for 24 hours beforehand, avoid metal zips, buckles and jewellery in the scan area, and tell the centre if you have had a barium study or a contrast scan in the last week.
Where can I get a DEXA scan near Friends Colony or Maharani Bagh?+
Dr. Sachdev refers to accredited imaging centres within a short drive of both clinics (Friends Colony East and Maharani Bagh Community Centre) at their standard rate — there is no markup or referral fee. WhatsApp +91 98110 78388 and the appointment plus the follow-up interpretation visit will be arranged together.