Combines a carotid Doppler with intimal media thickness measurement (IMT) and an echocardiogram to assess your arteries and heart function — identifying early signs of plaque buildup, narrowing, or heart-related stroke risk, often before any symptoms appear.
The Reason for Two
A stroke happens when blood stops reaching part of your brain. There is more than one way for that to happen — and the two most common causes sit in two different places.
The carotid arteries carry blood up to your brain. Plaque can narrow them, and fragments can break away and travel upward. A carotid ultrasound finds this.
An irregular rhythm, a diseased valve, or a weakened pumping chamber can let a clot form in the heart itself. That clot can travel to the brain. A carotid ultrasound cannot see any of this. An echocardiogram can.
This is why the two are sold together. Screening the neck alone answers half the question and leaves the other half unexamined. The combination is not a discount on two scans — it is the difference between a partial answer and a complete one.
What Is Included
A painless scan of the arteries on each side of your neck. It measures plaque, narrowing, and the thickness of the artery wall itself (intima-media thickness) — one of the earliest measurable signs of cardiovascular disease, often visible years before a blockage forms. More on carotid ultrasound →
A moving ultrasound of your heart. It measures ejection fraction (how much blood the heart pushes out with each beat), valve function, chamber size, and wall motion — the structural findings that create clot risk. More on echocardiograms →
Both are performed in the same visit by the same sonographer, and both are read by the same cardiologist — so the findings are interpreted together rather than in isolation.
Is This For Me?
No referral needed. Book directly if any of the following apply to you:
Not sure which package fits? Take the two-minute health score — it asks about your history and points you to the right one. Or compare all packages.
What Happens
About one hour, start to finish. No needles, no radiation, no preparation.
Eat normally and take your medications as usual. Wear a low-collar shirt, or something easy to change out of — the echo needs access to the chest.
You lie back. Warm gel and a small probe on each side of the neck. You will hear the blood flow through the Doppler; most people find it oddly reassuring.
The probe moves across the chest and under the ribs. You will be asked to roll onto your left side and hold your breath briefly a few times. You can watch your own heart on the screen.
Not a technician, and not software. A board-certified cardiologist whose lab holds IAC accreditation in both Echocardiography and Vascular Testing.
A written report with the measurements included — yours to keep and to hand to your own physician.
What We Detect
Combining these studies gives your cardiologist a comprehensive view that no single scan can provide.
The Honest Part
Most people screen and get reassurance. Some do not — and that is the point of screening. Here is exactly what happens in that case.
The Numbers
Carotid Duplex with IMT at $397, echocardiogram at $397. Two appointments, two trips, two reports read in isolation.
One appointment, about an hour. Both studies read together by the same cardiologist, in one report. $97 less, and a day of your life back.
No referral. No insurance. No prior authorization. The price you see is the price you pay, and it is due at the appointment — HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Why BlackPoint
Quality cardiovascular imaging shouldn't require a hospital visit, a referral, or a weeks-long wait. Our sonographer performs cardiovascular imaging daily alongside physicians — clinical-grade diagnostics delivered with genuine convenience.
Patient Reviews
BlackPoint holds a 5.0 rating — every review it has ever received. All of them are below, exactly as written. Nothing curated, nothing left out.
“Excellent service. Manny was very professional, explained every step of the process in plain language and made sure I was comfortable the whole time. I strongly recommend the services!”
— Deb C.“Used BlackPoint for an echocardiogram and it from beginning to end all went smoothly, no surprises and expectations exceeded. Same equipment that was used in a prestigious DC area hospital. Report with my heart EF % arrived within 24 hours which was awesome. Happy I have a new baseline and will definitely use the service for another in 3 months.”
— Sharyn B.“Excellent service! Emanuel was friendly, professional, and vert efficient. I received my report within a few hours. Highly recommend.”
— Shaukat A.“Excellent experience right in my own living room! Emanuel was very professional and courteous! I am thrilled that I had it done and would highly recommend him.”
— Scott T.“Very good service. Very thorough.”
— Kirk P.“Just had my first echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) so very impressed. Nice quiet comfortable medical office suite, Manny is an absolute medical professional. Very calming experience, able to visually see your heart in action while Manny is explaining the various actions of the heart. Also performed an ultrasound on the carotid arteries. 40 min comfortable procedure to determine the health of your heart. Low cost, results within 24 to 48 hours and just a few days to get an appointment! This is the way healthcare should be!”
— Positive NRG“Recently had an echocardiogram with Manny. Office was clean, and quite, he explained everything before and during the procedure. He was very down to earth, and friendly. Made the ultrasound not feel as cold and medical, a much more relaxed feel to the appointment. Would highly recommend. A quick easy was to make sure your heart is healthy!”
— Natasha H.“My recent echocardiogram with Manny was such a positive experience. Manny was professional and informative. The atmosphere of the office was clean, quiet and calming. I was able to get scheduled quickly and received my results the very next day. I would definitely recommend BlackPoint diagnostics for affordable, quick and accurate results.”
— Jennifer S.“I recently had an echocardiogram done with Manny, and he was wonderful. He was very professional, kind, and took the time to explain everything he was doing during the procedure, which really helped put me at ease. I received my results within 48 hours, which was impressive. Excellent experience overall — thank you, Manny!”
— Meagan B.“Manny was respectful and knowledgeable. I was brought in on time and was kept informed of what he was doing along with detailed explanations. The room was clean, quiet, and private. I received my results within 48 hours with a follow up email from Manny. Highly recommend.”
— Wanda K.“Manny was helpful and full of great information. It is great to be able to know up front the cost of testing and to have complete, accurate results with measurements included to send to my PCP. I didn't have to wait to schedule, and he was prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable.”
— Becca N.“Manny was extremely friendly and respectful, I felt very informed and helped by the services he provides in his business. Would most definitely recommend coming here for cardio/vascular ultrasounds”
— Julia C.“I had a very thorough and detailed ultrasound scan. The technologist was professional and made me feel comfortable. It was a breeze to get in and out of the office. Thank you”
— Sam A.“This process was simple to understand. I felt safe and respect which is huge for me. He talked to me and 40 minutes flew by like that.”
— Mallory P.… and more every month.
Verified Google reviews. See them on Google →
Common Questions
Because it only looks at one of the two places a stroke commonly starts. A carotid ultrasound examines the arteries in your neck. It cannot see inside the heart, where clots form from irregular rhythms, valve disease, or a weakened pumping chamber. If you screen only the neck, a cardiac source stays invisible.
Carotid plaque and reduced heart function are both typically silent until they are not. Screening exists precisely for people without symptoms — once symptoms appear, you are no longer screening, you are diagnosing. If you have no risk factors at all, a single scan may be enough; this package is aimed at people with age, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking history, or family history in the picture.
No. You can book directly. No referral, no prior authorization, no insurance approval. If something is found, your report gives your physician everything needed to act on it.
This is a self-pay service, paid at the appointment. Many patients use HSA or FSA funds, which typically cover diagnostic screening. At $697 for two studies with a cardiologist read, it is generally less than the deductible on the equivalent hospital imaging.
About an hour for both scans. Neither uses needles or radiation — ultrasound is the same technology used in pregnancy imaging. The only discomfort most people report is cool gel and being asked to hold their breath a few times during the echo.
Book Today
No referral, no insurance, no waiting. Book your stroke prevention package today and receive your cardiologist report within 24–48 hours.