Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS) Certification Practice Test 2026 - Free RPhS Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct response is indeed the option that identifies air plethysmography (APG) as the test that utilizes an air cuff to determine venous volume. APG is a specialized non-invasive diagnostic method that measures changes in the volume of a limb in response to inflation of a cuff, which causes variations in venous pressure. This allows for the assessment of venous function and volume dynamics by monitoring how the veins accommodate and expel blood during the cycle of inflation and deflation of the cuff. It is particularly useful for diagnosing chronic venous insufficiency and helps quantify venous reflux.

In contrast, duplex ultrasound combines traditional ultrasound imaging with Doppler capabilities to assess blood flow and detect clots, but it does not use an air cuff for volume measurement. Venography is an imaging technique where a contrast dye is injected into veins to visualize them via X-ray, focusing on structural abnormalities rather than volume measurement. Color Doppler ultrasound also assesses blood flow but relies on ultrasound technology to visualize and quantify blood flow patterns without using a cuff mechanism. Hence, APG is uniquely suited for directly measuring venous volume changes in a way that the other tests do not.