BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCapillary nail refill testNail blanch test; Capillary refill timeThe capillary nail refill test is a quick test done on the nail beds. It is used to monitor dehydration and the amount of blood flow to tissue.DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed Pressure is applied to the nail bed until it turns white. This indicates that the blood has been forced from the tissue under the nail. It is called blanching. Once the tissue has blanched, pressure is removed.While the person holds their hand above their heart, the health care provider measures the time it takes for blood to return to the tissue. Return of blood is indicated by the nail turning back to a pink color. How to Prepare for the Test Remove colored nail polish before this test. How the Test will Feel There will be minor pressure to the bed of your nail. This should not cause discomfort. Why the Test is Performed Tissues need oxygen to survive. Oxygen is carried to various parts of the body by the blood (vascular) system.This test measures how well the vascular system works in your hands and feet -- the parts of your body that are farthest from the heart. Normal Results If there is good blood flow to the nail bed, a pink color should return in less than 2 seconds after pressure is removed. What Abnormal Results Mean Blanch times that are greater than 2 seconds may indicate:Dehydration Hypothermia HypothermiaHypothermia is dangerously low body temperature, below 95°F (35°C).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) Peripheral vascular diseasePeripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition of the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. It occurs due to narrowing of the arteries in the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ShockShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesMcGrath JL, Bachmann DJ. Vital signs measurement. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 1.Schoener B, Wagner MJ. Hand injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 42.Swartz MH. The peripheral vascular system. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15.AllVideoImagesTogNail blanch test - illustration The nail blanch test, also called the capillary nail refill test, is performed on the nail beds as an indicator of tissue perfusion (the amount of blood flow to tissue) and dehydration.Nail blanch testillustrationNail blanch test - illustration The nail blanch test, also called the capillary nail refill test, is performed on the nail beds as an indicator of tissue perfusion (the amount of blood flow to tissue) and dehydration.Nail blanch testillustration Tests for Capillary nail refill test Capillary nail refill testRelated Information Dehydration(Condition)Shock(Injury)Peripheral artery disease - legs(Condition)Hypothermia(Injury)Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 6/20/2023 Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Capillary nail refill testNail blanch test; Capillary refill timeThe capillary nail refill test is a quick test done on the nail beds. It is used to monitor dehydration and the amount of blood flow to tissue.DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed Pressure is applied to the nail bed until it turns white. This indicates that the blood has been forced from the tissue under the nail. It is called blanching. Once the tissue has blanched, pressure is removed.While the person holds their hand above their heart, the health care provider measures the time it takes for blood to return to the tissue. Return of blood is indicated by the nail turning back to a pink color. How to Prepare for the Test Remove colored nail polish before this test. How the Test will Feel There will be minor pressure to the bed of your nail. This should not cause discomfort. Why the Test is Performed Tissues need oxygen to survive. Oxygen is carried to various parts of the body by the blood (vascular) system.This test measures how well the vascular system works in your hands and feet -- the parts of your body that are farthest from the heart. Normal Results If there is good blood flow to the nail bed, a pink color should return in less than 2 seconds after pressure is removed. What Abnormal Results Mean Blanch times that are greater than 2 seconds may indicate:Dehydration Hypothermia HypothermiaHypothermia is dangerously low body temperature, below 95°F (35°C).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) Peripheral vascular diseasePeripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition of the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. It occurs due to narrowing of the arteries in the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ShockShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesMcGrath JL, Bachmann DJ. Vital signs measurement. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 1.Schoener B, Wagner MJ. Hand injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 42.Swartz MH. The peripheral vascular system. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15.