What it means
Because the nail is clear, the nail bed shows the color of the blood flowing beneath it. Pressing on the nail and timing how fast the color returns is the capillary refill test; normal is under 2 to 3 seconds. Pale or bluish nail beds can come with poor blood flow or low oxygen.
For the nurse
Check capillary refill and nail bed color when assessing circulation, and remove dark nail polish or artificial nails if a pulse oximeter reading is needed from that finger.
At a glance
| Spanish | lecho ungueal |
|---|---|
| Also written | nail beds |
Related terms
pulse oximetry
A painless test that uses light through a finger, toe or earlobe to estimate how much oxygen the blood is carrying.
perfusion
The flow of blood through the body's tissues, bringing them oxygen and nutrients.
cyanosis
A blue or gray color of the skin, lips or nail beds.