How is ALS diagnosed?

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How is ALS diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and ask you about your medical history. You’ll also need several tests to confirm the diagnosis:

  • Blood and urine tests.
  • A neurological examination to test your reflexes and other responses.
  • Electromyogram (EMG) to measure the electrical activity of your nerves and muscles.
  • A nerve conduction study to test your nerves’ ability to send a signal.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to look at your brain or spine for areas of damage.

Other tests can’t diagnose ALS but can help rule out different diseases that may cause similar symptoms:

  • A spinal fluid test measures different substances in your spinal fluid to help diagnose brain and spinal cord problems.
  • Muscle and/or nerve biopsy takes a tissue sample of your muscles or nerves for examination.

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