DK Dr. Kundan Kumar Neurosurgeon · Patna Book Appointment
Book Appointment
Diagnostics

NCV / NCS (Nerve Conduction Study)

A test that measures how fast and how well signals travel along your nerves.

Book Appointment Call Clinic WhatsApp

Overview

A nerve conduction study (NCS), also called a nerve conduction velocity test (NCV), measures how quickly and strongly electrical signals travel along the nerves in your arms and legs.

It helps to detect nerve damage, find where a nerve is being compressed and tell different types of neuropathy apart.

Please confirm with the clinic when you book whether this test is currently available and where it will be done.

Why this test may be advised

  • Numbness, tingling or burning in the hands or feet
  • Suspected carpal tunnel syndrome or another trapped nerve
  • Weakness in the hands, arms or legs
  • Suspected peripheral neuropathy, including in people with diabetes
  • Suspected Guillain-Barré syndrome

Having one or more of these does not by itself mean you have a particular condition. A doctor's assessment is needed to find the cause.

What the test involves

  1. Small sticky electrodes are placed on the skin over a nerve or muscle.
  2. A brief, mild electrical pulse is used to stimulate the nerve.
  3. The pulse can feel like a quick tingle or tap.
  4. Several nerves may be tested, depending on your symptoms.

Who may need this test

  • People advised by a doctor to have a nerve conduction study for numbness, tingling or weakness

How to prepare

It helps to bring:

  • Ask the clinic when you book whether there are any specific instructions for this test
  • Tell the clinic if you have a pacemaker or another implanted electrical device
  • Wear loose clothing
  • Previous medical reports, prescriptions and hospital discharge summaries
  • MRI or CT scan films and reports, if you have them
  • A list of all the medicines you take, with their doses
  • A short note of your symptoms: when they started, how often they happen and what makes them better or worse
Test Preparation What to Bring

What happens next

  • A report is prepared from the measurements.
  • The doctor explains the results along with your symptoms and examination.
  • Treatment or further tests may be advised depending on the findings.

Recommendations depend on the clinician's assessment of your individual situation. This website cannot diagnose your condition or guarantee a particular result.

Frequently asked questions

Is the electrical pulse dangerous?

No. The pulses are small and brief. They can feel strange or slightly uncomfortable, but they are not harmful.

Is NCV the same as EMG?

No, but the two tests are often done together. NCV checks the nerves, while EMG checks the muscles.

Clinic locations

Please confirm the OPD day, timings and availability of this service when you book.

This page gives general information to help you understand this topic. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.

In an emergency

If you or someone with you has sudden weakness or numbness, facial drooping, slurred speech, a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, a sudden severe headache or loss of consciousness, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Do not wait for an appointment or rely on this website.

Call 112

Related services

EMG

A test that checks how well the muscles, and the nerves that control them, are working.

View Details: EMG

GBS

A rare, rapidly developing condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves.

View Details: GBS

Book an appointment or contact the clinic

Call or send a WhatsApp message to ask about appointment times at the Patna, Ara and Siwan clinics.

Book Appointment +91 80881 52289 WhatsApp Email