Allen Test
(Redirected from Allen’s Test)
Other Names
- Allen’s Test
- Modified Allen test
- MAT
- Allen Test
Purpose
- Assess patency of arterial blood supply of hand
- Anatomy: Ulnar Artery, Radial Artery
- First described in 1929 by Edgar V. Allen (need citation)
Description
Modified Allens Test
- The patient is seated or standing
- Palpate the radial artery with one hand, and the ulnar artery with the other
- Apply compression to both arteries and ask the patient to clench and unclench hand 10 times
- Release the ulnar artery and measure the time it takes for the thenar eminence to become flushed
- Repeat the test with the radial artery
- Compare to the unaffected hand
- Positive test
- Delayed capillary refill, typically > 6 seconds
Original Allens Test
- Performed by asking the patient to elevate both arms above the head
- This was to exsanguinate the hands
- Then the patient is asked to squeeze their hands into tight fists
- The examiner then occludes the radial artery simultaneously on both hands
- The patient then opens both hands rapidly
- Positive test
- Failure of the initial pallor to return to normal color
Pathology
Evidence
- Using a 6 second cutoff[3]
- Sensitivity: 54.5%
- Specificity: 91.7%
- Diagnostic accuracy: 78.5%
See Also
References
- ↑ Foreman, Andrew, et al. "The Allen’s test: revisiting the importance of bidirectional testing to determine candidacy and design of radial forearm free flap harvest in the era of trans radial endovascular access procedures." Journal of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery 44.1 (2015): 1-5.
- ↑ Castro, Danny, Sachin M. Patil, and Michael Keenaghan. "Arterial blood gas." (2019).
- ↑ A. Martin et al. Reliability of Allen’s test in selection of patients for radial artery harvest, The society of thoracic surgeons. Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:1362-1365
Created by:
John Kiel on 23 July 2019 23:45:22
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Last edited:
28 January 2026 00:48:30
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