capillary fragility test

cap·il·lar·y fra·gil·i·ty test

a tourniquet test used to determine the presence of vitamin C deficiency or thrombocytopenia; a circle 2.5 cm in diameter, the upper edge of which is 4 cm below the crease of the elbow, is drawn on the inner aspect of the forearm, pressure midway between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is applied above the elbow for 15 minutes, and a count of petechiae within the circle is made: 10, normal; 10-20, marginal; more than 20, abnormal.

Synonym(s): capillary resistance test, Rumpel-Leede sign, Rumpel-Leede test, vitamin C test

capillary fragility test

A crude test for vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency, which is based on the number of petechiae seen on the forearm after applying a blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer) inflated to the person’s mean arterial pressure.

cap·il·lar·y fra·gil·i·ty test

(kapi-lar-ē fră-jili-tē test)

Test used to determine vitamin C deficiency.
Synonym(s): Rumpel-Leede test, vitamin C test.