As a certified MRI Technologist and former Prenuvo employee, I have had the privilege of providing hundreds of patients with whole-body MRI scans.
I know the ins and outs of how full-body MRI scans are performed, what they cover, and more.
I have the inside scoop on what patients want to know when choosing where they should get their whole-body MRI scan.
These preventative MRI scans can offer a preemptive look inside our bodies and can even catch cancer and disease in its early stages.
Prenuvo and Ezra are top providers in the Whole Body MRI space.
In this post, I will provide my unbiased opinion on Prenuvo vs Ezra, and give you a look behind the curtain.
I go into pricing, scan quality, customer service, and more!
Keep reading if you want to discover what you should know when choosing a scanning facility for your whole-body MRI.
Prenuvo vs Ezra
Runner Up
Ezra
Best Overall
Prenuvo
Prenuvo vs Ezra – The Experience During The Scan
Some things are common to MRI scans across the board.
Similarities
Both Prenuvo and Ezra will:
- have loud noise
- have closed-bore scanners
- have coils (cameras) covering you from head to toe
- require you to hold still the entire time
- require you to hold your breath for some of the pictures
- will offer music during the test
- require you to remove metal and electronic objects
- have the option of using an eyemask, should you feel anxious
- have safety limits and protocols if you have metal implants
Differences
Prenuvo
- Prenuvo offers both Spotify and Netflix.
- Prenuvo scanners are modern and high-tech, complete with engineering to offer a specially calibrated diffusion-weighted imaging sequence, which is a token picture sequence to detect disease and cancer, even in its early stages.
- Prenuvo facilities are owned and operated by the company. This means that the technologists are specialized and trained in whole-body MRI.
- MRI Machine Type: 1.5 T, wide Bore (70cm diameter) closed MRI (don’t worry, it’s open at the back toilet paper roll style)
Ezra
- Ezra also offers a CT scan of the chest at a low dose.
- Offers music (no video) at some locations, but not all.
- Ezra uses 3 Tesla MRIs, which are double the strength of Prenuvo scanners. This could result in the exclusion of patients who have incompatible metallic implants (such as certain models of heart stents and aneurysm clips). A stronger magnet can also cause more heating in the body during the scan. A bonus is that the scan could be faster due to the extra strength.
- Some of Ezra’s clinics use 60cm (small) MRIs. This may cause claustrophobia, although there are things you can do to mitigate this.
- Ezra MRI techs are hired from outside the company. This means they may not be specifically trained in whole-body MRI like Prenuvo techs are.
Overall, Prenuvo takes the cake on the scan experience.
This is because they own their facilities and can provide a consistent scanning experience across the board with the same machines at all locations.
With Ezra, the scanning experience may vary from location to location, as they do not own their facilities.
Prenuvo vs Ezra – Scan Quality
Prenuvo can detect tumors as small as 1cm and Ezra claims it can also detect sizes as small as 1.0cm.
Similarities
- both offer comprehensive head to lower legs/ ankle and foot (depending on patient height)
- both are not ideal for evaluating the lungs
Differences
One key difference is that some Ezra clinics have 3 Tesla MRI scanners. This means that the scans may have a higher resolution.
This higher resolution is nice to have, but it’s hard to say on whether it would make a difference in the diagnosis and reporting by the radiologist.
This extra strength may also mean there are more artifacts on the scans.
Artifact is a blurriness on the images due to the motion of your lungs, abdominal, and pelvic organs. The higher the strength of the magnet, the more likely this artifact is to appear.
Website Ease of Use and the MRI Report
Prenuvo
- Prenuvo has in-house radiologists who are all trained to provide consistent reporting across all locations
- Prenuvo’s innovative patient dashboard allows a user-friendly interface. Rating findings as mild, moderate, or severe. Your results will be displayed on this dashboard and you will have access to the full physician report.
- In this dashboard, you are also able to book appointments, get educated on what to expect during your scans, and download your images.
- The report can be sent to your doctor or specialist along with a full copy of the images.
- There is also an app so that you can access your results from your phone.
Ezra
- Ezra typically provides its full-body MRI scan reports through their online platform. Clients can log in to access their detailed reports, which are designed to be easy to understand.
- Ezra’s platform often allows users to view their MRI scan images. The Ezra viewer promises an easy-to-use platform to view your images.
- The MyEzra Patient dashboard allows you to go through your findings with ease. Rating findings on a scale of severity from 1-5.
- A 45-minute consultation with an Ezra clinician is included. This allows you to go through your report with a specialist.
However, the specifics of how reports are delivered or if they offer other methods of delivery, such as mailing, are not exactly clear.
Tech Insider Note Regarding Scan Quality:
The "detects tumors as small as 1cm" claim you'll see from both companies is really a statement about spatial resolution, not detection guarantee.
Whether something that size actually gets caught depends on tissue contrast, location, and how much the area moves during the scan.
3T vs. 1.5T debate: a stronger magnet isn't a strict upgrade. 3T does improve resolution, but it also increases susceptibility artifacts (distortion near metal or air pockets, like sinuses or joint replacements).
The stronger magnetic field can cause heating of body tissues , sometimes forcing technologists to slow down or adjust sequences to keep patients safe and comfortable. This can mean a longer and warmer scan experience.
In my experience, consistent protocols and an experienced tech behind the console often matter more for image quality than the Tesla number on the scanner.
Customer Service
Prenuvo
Prenuvo clients frequently highlight the company’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and comfortable experience throughout the screening process.
What I think makes Prenuvo stand out is that they own their scanning facilities, which means that everyone across all departments is in direct communication.
This means that the sales team can directly communicate with the technologists and radiologists to ensure your questions are directly answered by the professionals.
Prenuvo has a proactive approach, providing information and details on their website and YouTube providing tons of information about your scan. If you still need help, you can reach out to Prenuvo:
Ezra
Ezra has a YouTube channel with most videos being patient testimonials. I also saw one video that goes over the scan experience at Ezra.
The website states that they have a dedicated care team that will assist you along the way. However, there was no further information that I could find about what exactly that means.
They do, however, have a phone number and email for you to reach out if any assistance is needed.
Trust Factor and Expertise
Prenuvo
Dr. Raj Attariwala, MD, Ph.D. is a dual board-certified radiologist and nuclear medicine physician who is certified in both Canada and the United States.
What sets him apart is that Raj also holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).
This means that the Prenuvo team has professional insight from an expert in diagnostic medical imaging and health technology.
Prenuvo also has a dedicated team of engineers and researchers who are constantly developing and innovating new imaging techniques and analyzing data.
This includes incorporating AI to help assist the radiologist and provide more quantitative data on scans. This means they are pioneers in the field of whole-body MRI and are publishing scientific discoveries in real scientific journals.
See Prenuvo’s blog for more info on what scientific discoveries they have cooking up!
Prenuvo also has dedicated scanning facilities and MRI technologists who specialize in whole-body MRI scans. This ensures consistent patient experience and scan quality across the board. In short, Prenuvo is a well-oiled machine.
Ezra
- Ezra uses third-party scanning facilities, technologists, and radiologists. In my opinion, this is the biggest draw back.
Using third-party facilities may mean they can offer services at a reduced cost. However, it may also mean that there are inconsistencies in scanning experience and radiology. As the technologists and radiologists are not Ezra employees, but rather contracted third-party professionals.
- Ezra also has a medical advisory board made up of AI, Oncology, and Radiology experts. However, it is not clear if these experts are third-party advisors or Ezra employees.
Like Prenuvo, Ezra is also doing some research with AI. They have developed post-processing technology (like adding filters to a photo after it is taken).
However, when perusing their blog, I didn’t see evidence of any scientific publications authored by the Ezra team.
This means they fall short in comparison to Prenuvo on the trustworthy scale, as I would like to see Ezra contribute more to the scientific advancement of preventative whole-body MRI.
Pricing
Ezra and Prenuvo both have standalone scan and membership options available.
Both Prenuvo and Ezra offer labwork with their membership packages. If you buy a standalone MRI scan, the labwork will not be included.
There is a bit of a difference between the two providers when it comes to scan coverage (what body parts are being covered). Below, I do my best to break it down and compare apples to apples.
Prenuvo
Prenuvo pricing offers whole-body scans at 2499.00 USD.
They offer financing through Paybright (Canada) and Affirm (USA). They also take a deposit (refundable up to 3 business days before your appointment) to deter last -minute cancellations and wasted appointment spots.
Ezra
Ezra has been acquired by Function Health and has since undergone some changes with their pricing. This is good news as the prices have gone down quite a bit.
Ezra scans are now bundled through a Function Health membership ($365/year for labs), with the base full-body scan at $899 (members) / $999 (standalone)
Like Prenuvo, Ezra has a membership and standalone scan options. The prices for the scan itself are cheaper if you have the membership.
Prenuvo Vs Ezra- Direct Price Comparisson
Let me break it down and compare apples to apples. All prices are in USD.
Entry -Level Scans
Both Ezra and Prenuvo don’t include spine and scan Head to mid-thigh with this entry level scan.
- Prenuvo Focused- $1199.00
- Ezra Base Scan
- $899.00 member
- $999.00 non-member
Mid-Tier
Prenuvo scan is more expensive but goes to include at least the knee region. On shorter individuals this scan might reach to ankles and toes. Ezra’s mid-tier scan, on the other hand, goes down to mid-thigh, but is cheaper.
- Prenuvo Whole Body – $2499.00
- Spine and legs included
- Ezra MRI With Spine- $1699.00
- Spine included
- scans to mid-thigh only
Ezra is a good option here if you are interested in spine imaging and want to save some bucks, but are not as interested in your knees and lower legs.
Top-Tier
- Prenuvo Executive- $3999-4999/ year
- Includes body comp analysis, advanced brain health analysis, and advanced heart analysis
- does not include specialized imaging of neck vessels (angiogram), but does include this for the head
- Only accessible with annual membership
- Ezra MRI Scan With Skeletal and Neuro Assessment- $3999
- Includes body composition, brain analysis, and specialized imaging of neck vessels and head
- Does not include heart analysis
Prenuvo vs Ezra- Locations
Prenuvo Locations
Prenuvo is unique as it has recently started expanding across the globe. With a site in Australia and one on the way in Dubai.
See full list here.
Ezra Locations
Since the Function Health acquisition, there are many locations the company is partnering with. Check out their list to find a location near you.
Prenuvo vs Ezra- Who Wins?
This Prenuvo vs Ezra comparison clearly shows how these two preventative whole-body MRI providers compare.
Prenuvo is the clear winner due to its rapidly advancing technology and dedication to furthering research.
Also, Prenuvo owns and operates its facilities with the MRI technologists and radiologists being employed by Prenuvo.
This is a huge plus in my opinion, as it ensures consistency in both the scanning experience and the reporting. This, in my opinion, is worth the higher price tag.
