| Hess test | |
| Purpose: | assess capillary fragility |
The Hess test or Rumpel-Leede test is a medical test used to assess capillary fragility.[1] It is also called the Tourniquet test. To perform the test, pressure is applied to the forearm with a blood pressure cuff inflated to between systolic and diastolic blood pressure for 10 minutes. After removing the cuff, the number of petechiae in a 5 cm diameter circle of the area under pressure is counted. Normally less than 15 petechiae are seen.[2] 15 or more petechiae indicate capillary fragility, which occurs due to poor platelet function, bleeding diathesis or thrombocytopenia, and can be seen in cases of scurvy,[3] and Dengue fever.
The test is named after Alfred Fabian Hess.