Allen's test

Allen's test,

[Edgar Van Nuys Allen, American physician, 1893-1986], a test for the patency of the radial artery after insertion of an indwelling monitoring catheter. The patient's hand is formed into a fist while the nurse compresses the ulnar artery. Compression continues while the fist is opened. If blood perfusion through the radial artery is adequate, the hand should flush and resume its normal pinkish coloration.

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Allen's test [al´enz]

a test for occlusion of radial or ulnar arteries: the patient makes a tight fist so as to express the blood from the skin of the palm and fingers; the examiner makes digital compression on either the radial or ulnar artery. Failure of blood to return to the palm and fingers when the hand is opened indicates obstruction of the blood flow in the artery that has not been compressed. Either this test or a doppler ultrasound examination should always be performed prior to insertion of a radial artery line.

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Allen's test

Rehabilitation medicine A test used to determine patency of the ulnar or radial artery; the hand is clenched to force blood out; if the blood does not flow back into the hand rapidly, one or more arteries are stenosed or occluded–eg, due to throacic outlet syndrome