NCV Test – Price, Purpose, Procedure, Normal Range [2025]
NCV test refers to Nerve Conduction Velocity test. Assess the function of the peripheral nerves by using this diagnostic tool. It measures how fast the electrical impulse travels through the nerves. Moreover, the test is highly beneficial in detecting any signs of neuromuscular weakness or disability, such as peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, for instance.
A neurologist usually performs the test, which involves using small electrodes to stimulate the nerve and measuring the response. Doctors prescribe this test to old patients, or those having difficulty in moving their jaw, legs, hands and shoulders.
Your doctor may recommend NCV test because of the following reasons:
- Suspected peripheral nerve damage: Peripheral nerves, which are responsible for transmitting signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. If a person is experiencing symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness, an NCV test can help determine if there is damage to the peripheral nerves.
- Diagnosis of nerve disorders: NCV tests can also be used to diagnose a variety of nerve disorders, including peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. These tests can help determine the cause of symptoms and provide information about the extent and location of nerve damage.
- Monitoring the progression of a nerve disorder
- Pre-operative evaluation: NCV tests may also be performed before certain types of surgery, such as carpal tunnel release, to assess the function of the nerves and ensure that they are not damaged during the procedure.
- Ruling out other conditions such as muscle disorders or spinal cord injuries.
NCV Test Details in Brief
| Also Known As | Nerve conduction study (NCS), Electroneurography (ENoG), Electrodiagnostic study (EDS), Nerve conduction test, Peripheral nerve test, Electromyography (EMG) and NCV |
| Purpose | To evaluate the function and health of peripheral nerves by measuring the speed at which nerve impulses travel along a nerve. |
| Preparation | No special preparation required. Wear lose and comfortable clothes. |
| Fasting | No |
| Reporting Time | |
| Cost |
Price
Purpose
Use the NCV test to diagnose damage to the nerves in the upper and lower limbs and detect a variety of autoimmune disorders related to nerves.
- Sciatica nerve problems: It is not a severe condition. A nerve gets pinched under the bone or a joint. This pinched nerve causes pain.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: A disorder in which the median nerve in the hand gets compressed. It causes tingling sensations, weakness and numbness in the hand.
- Herniated disc disease denotes the outward ejection of the intervertebral disc in the spinal cord.
- Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disorder involving damage to the myelin sheath(protective coating around the nerve fiber).
- CMT disease (Charcot-Marie-Tooth): In this disease, the peripheral nerves begin to damage. The peripheral nerves are the nerves located on the surface of the organs like feet. In this disease, the sensation of touch and pain starts to disappear.
- Peripheral neuropathy: It is the damage to the peripheral nerves.
Procedure
The test procedure depends upon the condition of an individual. A neurologist performs the NCV test. Place electrode patches on the skin to perform a nerve conduction velocity test, also called a nerve conduction study.
The procedure includes the following steps:
- The expert instructs the patient to wear a gown.
- The technician will ask you to sit or lie down before the test starts. The neurologist locates the nerve to be tested.
- There are two electrodes placed over the nerves or muscles. One of the electrodes stimulates the nerves while the other records it.
- Nerve stimulation and the response are recorded.
- You may feel some discomfort for a few seconds, which is not dangerous.
- The reaction of the activated nerve becomes visualized on the monitor of an electronic system.
Preparation
- Before getting the test scheduled, it is important to report to your doctor any medications or behavioral disorders that might interfere with the test result.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes on the day of the test.
- You need not fast before the test.
- It’s good to avoid lotions, oils, or creams on the skin on the day of the test.
- Inform the doctor if you have any allergies or if you have a pacemaker or other electrical devices implanted in your body.
What not to do for the NCV test?
There are the following purposes of the NCV test.
- Do not use any products on the skin for several days before the test.
- Your doctor may ask you to avoid caffeine consumption.
- The patient may experience a little bit of discomfort for a few seconds.
- The response of the stimulated nerve and the response are regularly displayed on a monitor.
What is the importance of the NCV test in Neurology?
Neurobiology deals with the brain and muscle movement coordination. The NCV and EMG test helps in diagnosing and managing the deadly and cureless neuromuscular disorders like ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
Results
The NCV result may be normal or abnormal.
Normal
Consider a nerve conduction velocity test result of 50 to 60 meters per second to be normal. The Normal condition indicates the absence of any neuromuscular disorders.
Abnormal
Nerve conduction velocity beyond the normal range indicates nerve damage. Various conditions are responsible for abnormal NCV results. Your doctor will diagnose the condition depending upon other symptoms and further tests if required.
Risks
The NCV test poses no risk. The low voltage used causes no side effects, as recorded. Some may feel slight discomfort from the electric stimulation, which lasts for a short duration.
Certain risks in the NCV test depend upon an individual’s health condition. Conditions such as high body temperature, damage to the spinal cord, etc., may interfere with the result.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the NCV test is a diagnostic tool for evaluating the peripheral nerves’ functionality. A neurologist performs the test, which involves timing the speed at which electrical impulses pass through a nerve. Carry out the NCV test, which is not painful, in a hospital or doctor’s office. It is safe but in some cases, people with pacemakers or other electrical devices implanted in the body may have some risk.
The test results will show if the nerve is functioning normally or not. Overall it is a simple and effective way to diagnose nerve-related conditions such as peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome.
FAQs
The patient shall go to the concerned expert for the result of the NCV test.
The abnormal result may indicate neurological issues like ALS syndrome, Myasthenia gravis and other neuromuscular diseases.
Nerve conduction is the electric signal transfer from the brain to the muscles via the nerves.
The disorder involving the issues in the movement of muscles is known as neuromuscular disorders.
The nerve conduction velocity is defined as the speed of travelling of the nerve impulse from the brain to the muscles.
The test usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number of nerves being tested.
Some patients may feel a mild discomfort or tingling sensation during the test, but it is generally not considered painful.
The test is generally considered safe, with minimal risk of complications. However, patients with pacemakers or other electrical devices implanted in their body may be at a higher risk of complications and should inform their doctor before the test.