Second-Hand FibroScan Australia: What to Know Before You Buy
Used FibroScan devices appear on the Australian market regularly. Before you commit, understand the service contract, software, and clinical performance risks — and compare against a new guided system.
MSAC Application 1797 — rejected early 2025
There is no MBS rebate for liver elastography in Australia as of 2025 — regardless of whether you use FibroScan, a used FibroScan, iLivTouch, or any other system. The economic case for any elastography device relies entirely on out-of-pocket patient fees. MSAC 1797 analysis →
Why Second-Hand FibroScan Devices Are on the Market
Used FibroScan devices appear in Australia for several reasons. Some clinics exit the elastography service entirely when the economics prove marginal. Others upgrade from FibroScan to guided TE systems after experiencing high failure rates in their obese patient cohort. Some hospital radiology departments rationalise equipment after procurement decisions change.
These are precisely the reasons worth understanding before committing to a used device. The clinic selling the FibroScan experienced something — whether economics, clinical performance, or service cost — that led them to exit. That experience is part of the device's history.
Six Risks in Second-Hand FibroScan Purchases
Service contract eligibility
Echosens may not offer standard service contracts on devices transferred without their authorisation. Time-and-materials repair costs can be unpredictable and significantly higher than amortised contract costs.
Software version lock
Older FibroScan devices may run firmware that cannot be updated to current software. This affects reporting format compatibility with current GESA/EASL guideline recommendations.
Probe condition and lifespan
The VCTE transducer probe is a consumable. A used device probe may have significant remaining lifespan — or may need immediate replacement. Probe replacement cost is not always disclosed in second-hand sales.
No XL probe included
The XL probe (required for patients with BMI >30) is almost never included in second-hand FibroScan sales. Adding the XL probe after purchase is an additional capital item — and may itself face eligibility restrictions.
No warranty
A used device carries no manufacturer warranty. Any failure from day one is an out-of-pocket repair. In a device with moving mechanical components (the VCTE piston mechanism), this is a meaningful risk.
Why the previous owner is selling
Many FibroScan devices are on the secondary market because the clinic found it uneconomic or clinically insufficient — particularly for high-BMI patient cohorts. Understanding the original clinic's experience is important due diligence.
Due diligence beyond the purchase price
A used device can look like significant upfront savings. Over three years, service eligibility limits, high-BMI failures, XL-probe gaps, and the lack of an MBS rebate pathway for standalone VCTE often matter more than the sticker price alone.
Use the ROI calculator with your own capital, volume, and fee assumptions — or request a demo to compare a new guided system against the used-device path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a second-hand FibroScan in Australia?
Second-hand FibroScan devices do appear on the Australian market, typically from clinics that are closing, upgrading, or exiting the elastography service. However, buyers face significant risks: service contract eligibility may be restricted for devices transferred without Echosens authorisation, software may be locked to the original clinic's configuration, and the XL probe (required for BMI >30 patients) is typically not included in second-hand sales.
What are the risks of buying a used FibroScan?
Key risks include: (1) service contract eligibility — Echosens may not offer full service contracts on transferred devices, leading to time-and-materials repair costs; (2) software version — older devices may not support current guideline-recommended reporting formats; (3) probe condition — the transducer probe is a consumable with limited lifespan; (4) no XL probe for high-BMI patients; (5) no warranty on a used device. Ongoing service and repair costs can exceed the initial purchase price over a few years.
Why are clinics selling their FibroScan devices?
Common reasons include: MSAC Application 1797 rejection (no MBS rebate for elastography in Australia as of 2025), frustration with high failure rates in obese patients (20–25% with the M probe), ongoing service obligations, and transition to guided TE systems that outperform blind VCTE in high-BMI patients. These same reasons are worth understanding before committing to a used FibroScan.
Is a new guided TE system better value than a used FibroScan?
In many clinical scenarios a new guided TE system is the better long-term investment even when a used FibroScan looks cheaper upfront. A new iLivTouch includes a universal probe and modern warranty support. The business case comes from service eligibility, rebate pathways via ultrasound adjunct billing, lower failed-scan rates in high-BMI patients, and avoided XL-probe requirements. Model your assumptions in the ROI calculator before you buy.
Compare a new guided system before you decide
Use the ROI calculator with your own assumptions, or request a demo to discuss guided elastography for your workflow.
Open ROI calculator