Nerve conduction velocity or NCV

Nerve conduction velocity or NCV is a test that determines the speed of conduction of impulses through a nerve. The nerve is stimulated, usually with surface electrodes, which are patch-like electrodes 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 nerve conduction velocity.