How is MS diagnosed?
Diagnosis of MS is primarily based on the occurrence of typical symptoms indicative of the condition and on imaging data of the brain.
There is no straightforward ”positive or negative“ test for MS available to date. None of the tests available to help doctors with their diagnosis are 100% conclusive on their own.
A neurologist will base the final diagnosis by ruling out other possibilities:
• By asking you questions about your medical history he will determine whether or not you have had any previous neurological disturbances which were so mild that you might not have taken them seriously.
• By carrying out a thorough neurological examination he will look for signs and symptoms of neurological alterations.
• By collecting additional data he is looking for supportive evidence in securing the diagnosis. This data is derived from various sources such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, lab tests (oligoclonal bands), tests evaluating the brain’s electrical activity (evoked potentials) and finally by spinal tap examinations (lumbar puncture).
