EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE

Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Name: __TABBOGA, GHAIZHEL NICOLE___ Date: ____02/23/2024___________

Section: __ __________MMLS 3-4______________

HEMATOLOGY 2 LABORATORY
WORKSHEET NO. _____
CAPILLARY FRAGILITY TEST

A. Fill out the form based on the result of the experiment.

I. CAPILLARY FRAGILITY TEST

QUICK TEST
Method: __________________
SCHERRIDAN MAURICE S. GUBIO
Patient Name: ______________________________ 20/FEMALE
Age/Sex: ______________
Result: ________________
70 AVERAGE
NO PETECHIAE
Interpretation: _____________________________

B. Answer the following questions.

1. State the reason why petechiae found within ½ inch from the area where the
sphygmomanometer cuff is placed is not counted.
➢ Petechiae found within ½ inch or in the vicinity of the sphygmomanometer cuff area
aren't taken into consideration due to multiple factors. Firstly, the pressure exerted by
the cuff during blood pressure measurement can lead to the development of petechiae
by compressing capillaries, but these occurrences don't necessarily reflect any
underlying issues concerning capillary fragility or platelet activity. Secondly, the main
objective of using a sphygmomanometer is to gauge systemic blood pressure, and
petechiae localized to this specific region don't provide relevant insights into overall
health status.

2. Explain why capillary fragility testing needed pressure.

➢ Capillary fragility testing, also known as the Hess or Tourniquet test, is a procedure
that involves the application of pressure to the forearm using a blood pressure cuff.
The pressure of this test has several significant purposes. Firstly, it serves to evaluate
how easily capillaries rupture under pressure, allowing for the detection of any
anomalies in their responsiveness or it assesses capillary fragility. Secondly, the use
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

of a blood pressure cuff ensures a standardized procedure, facilitating consistent and

reproducible results across different individuals and enabling accurate comparisons.
The pressure applied results in the formation of petechiae, which are small red or
purple spots, indicating capillary damage. Counting the number of petechiae in a
specific area post-pressure release provides diagnostic insights, with more than 15
petechiae suggestive of capillary fragility, potentially indicative of various conditions
such as scurvy, Dengue fever, bleeding disorders, or platelet dysfunction. Ultimately,
this method aids clinicians in assessing vascular health and identifying potential
underlying issues concerning capillary function and fragility.

3. What are the conditions in which a positive tourniquet test is present?

➢ A positive tourniquet test, also known as the Hess test, signifies an abnormal response
to capillary pressure or , means there's a problem with how your small blood vessels
handle pressure which indicates various underlying conditions such as (1) scurvy,
resulting from a deficiency in vitamin C, weakens blood vessels and increases
capillary fragility, leading to the formation of petechiae; (2) Thrombocytopenia,
characterized by a decreased platelet count, renders blood vessels more prone to
rupture due to insufficient platelets, resulting in petechiae formation; (3)
Thrombasthenia, an inherited bleeding disorder, manifests as impaired platelet
function, compromising capillary integrity; (4) Disseminated Intravascular
Coagulopathy (DIC) involves widespread clotting and bleeding, damaging capillaries
due to excessive clotting factor activation, thereby causing petechiae; and (5) Von
Willebrand’s Disease, affecting von Willebrand factor function, leads to capillary
fragility due to deficiencies in this clotting protein.
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

REFERENCES

Capillary Fragility: the Test. (n.d.-a). https://diagnostic-medical-tests.com/hematology-coagulation-

tests/capillary-fragility.htm
Capillary Fragility: the Test. (n.d.-b). http://www.diagnostic-medical-tests.com/hematology-
coagulation-tests/capillary-fragility.htm
Chong, J. C. (n.d.). Dengue fever and tourniquet test. EMNote.
https://www.emnote.org/emnotes/dengue-fever-and-tourniquet-test
Garce, K., Garce, K., & Garce, K. (2023, October 17). Petechiae from a blood pressure cuff. Blood
Pressure Explained |. https://bloodpressureexplained.com/petechiae-from-a-blood-pressure-
cuff/#google_vignette
Van Rhijn, B. D., Vlachojannis, G. J., & Balak, D. M. W. (2019). Petechial purpuric rash after non-
invasive blood pressure measurement: Rumpel-Leede sign. Case Reports, 12(10), e231541.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-231541
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, February 16). Hess test. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hess_test
Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, January 23). Tourniquet test. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourniquet_test
Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, February 20). Petechia. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petechia
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS