[1] With the patient in the supine position, the leg is flexed at the hip and raised above heart level.
The veins will empty due to gravity or with the assistance of the examiner's hand squeezing blood towards the heart.
[2] The test is reported in two parts, the initial standing up of the patient (positive or negative based on rapid filling) and the second phase once the tourniquet is removed (positive or negative based upon rapid filling).
[citation needed] For example, a possible outcome of the test would be negative-positive meaning that the initial phase of the test was negative indicating competence in the deep and communicating veins and the second phase of the test was positive meaning that there is superficial vein incompetence.
[citation needed] The test can be repeated with the tourniquet at different levels to further pinpoint the level of valvular incompetence: Superficial veins of the leg normally empty into deep veins, however retrograde filling occurs when valves are incompetent, leading to varicose veins.