Active stand test
The active stand test is a test that can measure orthostatic tachycardia (abnormally fast heart rate upon standing) and orthostatic hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure upon standing).[1] It is used in the diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.[2]
First, individuals are asked to lie down for a period of 5 minutes, when heart rate and blood pressure are measured. If heart rate is high, that period is extended by another 5 minutes.[1] Upon standing, heart rate and blood pressure are measured at fixed intervals (e.g. every minute for ten minutes, or immediately, at 3 minutes and at 10 minutes).[1][2] Symptoms (e.g. dizziness) are recorded too. For the test, medication that can change heart rates are stopped before as appropriate. Compared to a tilt table test, there is typically a smaller increase in heart rate, and sometimes a repeat is necessary if POTS is highly suspected but the initial test did not clearly show POTS was present.[2]
The active stand test is similar the passive lean test, also called NASA Lean Test.[3] In the passive lean test, individuals lean against a wall, which makes it easier for highly symptomatic or frail individuals. It is often used to test for orthostatic intolerance in ME/CFS.[4]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "International Guidelines for Active Standing Test Procedure". STARS. 2009.
- 1 2 3 Lau, Dennis H.; Fedorowski, Artur; Raj, Satish R.; Schild, Caelum; Pace, Laura A.; Blitshteyn, Svetlana; Raj, Vidya; Boris, Jeffrey R.; Kavi, Lesley; Seeley, Marie-Claire; Gallagher, Celine (2026). "Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: A State-of-the-Art Review". Heart, Lung and Circulation. 35 (2): 171–185. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2025.09.004. ISSN 1443-9506.
- ↑ Lee J, Vernon SD, Jeys P, Ali W, Campos A, Unutmaz D, et al. (August 2020). "Hemodynamics during the 10-minute NASA Lean Test: evidence of circulatory decompensation in a subset of ME/CFS patients". Journal of Translational Medicine. 18 (1) 314. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02481-y. PMC 7429890. PMID 32799889.
- ↑ Bateman, Lucinda (21 May 2026). "Orthostatic Intolerance Testing Made Clear: Tilt Table, Active Stand, and the Passive Stand". Bateman Horne Center. Retrieved 2026-07-21.