Glass test
The glass test is a simple way of telling if a rash blanches. This means that when
pressure is put on the skin, the rash fades.
The glass test is useful, because it enables a parent to tell whether a rash is
worryingly serious or not.
To perform the glass test
- Take an ordinary clear glass (or plastic) tumbler
- Place it on the skin next to the spots
- Roll it onto the spots, applying firm pressure. Note that the normal skin under the
glass goes white as the blood is pushed out of the tiny surface blood vessels
- If the spots fade when the glass is rolled over them, the rash isn't serious
- If a spot doesn't fade, it is a non-blanching rash, and needs urgent medical attention
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