Instalab ResearchA DEXA scan, or Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, uses two low-dose X-ray beams at different energy levels to measure how much bone mineral and soft tissue your body contains. By separating bone from fat and lean tissue, it provides precise data about your skeleton and overall composition.
For bones, the scan produces scores that classify your density as normal, low (osteopenia), or very low (osteoporosis). For soft tissue, whole-body scans can estimate fat percentage, fat distribution, and lean mass. The technique has become the clinical gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis and monitoring bone health because of its accuracy and reproducibility compared to earlier imaging methods.
Not all DEXA scans measure the same thing. Choosing the right type depends on why you are getting tested. Once you know which scan best fits your needs, booking your appointment with Instalab is simple and convenient:
DEXA is widely considered the most precise noninvasive method for measuring bone mineral density. That said, accuracy can vary based on equipment and technique. For example, differences in scan mode geometry (pencil-beam versus fan-beam) can slightly alter estimates of fat and bone density, particularly in older adults.
This makes consistency across repeated scans important. For tracking bone loss or treatment response, it is best to get follow-up scans on the same type of machine, ideally at the same clinic, to reduce variability between tests.
Other research has confirmed that while DEXA correlates strongly with traditional gold-standard body composition techniques such as hydrostatic weighing, it can sometimes overestimate fat mass and underestimate lean mass. Still, the error margins are small enough that DEXA remains suitable for both clinical and personal use.
