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NCV

The acronym for Nerve Conduction Velocity. An NCV is a parameter that is measured during an NCS. During the NCV test, the nerve is electrically stimulated by one electrode while other electrodes detect the electrical impulse "downstream" from the first electrode. The NCV test is usually done with surface patch electrodes similar to those used for an EKG (electrocardiogram). The patch electrodes are placed on the skin over the nerve at various locations. One electrode stimulates the nerve with a very mild electrical impulse. The resulting electrical activity is recorded by the other electrodes. The distance between electrodes and the time it takes for electrical impulses to travel between electrodes are used to calculate the speed of impulse transmission (the nerve conduction velocity, or NCV).

This test is commonly used to diagnose and to monitor CMT.

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