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24 Hour Holter Monitor
in Melbourne

Book online

Bulk Billing available to eligible patients Open 6 days Telehealth available

Bulk Billing available to eligible patients

Open 6 days

Telehealth available

What is 24 hour Holter monitoring?

24 hour Holter monitoring, also called 24 hour ambulatory ECG recording, is a continuous tracing of your heart’s electrical activity over a full day and night. It gives your doctor or cardiologist in-depth information about how your heart behaves at rest, during activity and in your normal daily life, and can help guide diagnosis and treatment.

A standard ECG in the clinic only records a few minutes. A Holter monitor can pick up irregular heart rhythms that come and go and might not show up during a short test.

Why might my GP recommend a Holter monitor?

Your GP may suggest one if you have symptoms such as:

Palpitations (a racing, fluttering or pounding heartbeat)
Dizziness or light-headedness
Fainting or blackouts
Shortness of breath

It may also be used to follow up an abnormal ECG or to check how a heart condition or treatment is going. Your GP will decide whether it is the right test for you.

How does it work?

See a GP. Book an appointment with a GP at Health Hub Hobsons Bay, who can request the Holter monitor for you.
Fitting. Small electrode stickers are placed on your chest and connected to a lightweight recorder.
Wear it for 24 hours. Go about your usual day, including work and exercise. Note your symptoms and activities in the patient record log you are given, as this helps the cardiologist match what you felt with what the monitor recorded.
Return the monitor.
Cardiologist review. We upload the digital recording to a specialist cardiologist, who reviews the whole tracing together with your record log and sends a comprehensive report to your doctor.
Results. Results typically take 2-3 days.

How to prepare for your appointment

Shower beforehand. You will not be able to get the device wet once it is fitted.
Do not apply moisturiser to your chest after showering, as it can stop the electrode stickers from sticking.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Tell us if you have sensitive skin or an allergy to adhesives or plasters.
Follow your normal routine. The aim is to record your heart on an ordinary day, so go to work and the gym as you usually would.

How much does 24 hour Holter monitoring cost?

Holter monitoring is free of charge / bulk billed however, you may need to pay a consultation fee to see the GP for your initial appointment and to discuss your results.

How long do the results take?

Results typically take 2-3 days. The digital file of your recording goes to a specialist cardiologist, who reviews the full tracing and your patient record log and compiles a report back to your doctor.