7 Ways to Diagnose ALS

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ALS can be very difficult to diagnose since there isn’t a specific procedure or test to ultimately establish the ALS diagnosis.

It is only through several diagnostic tests (often used to rule out other diseases that mimic ALS) and a thorough clinical examination that a diagnosis can be established.

According to the ALS Association, a comprehensive diagnostic workup includes most, if not all, of the following procedures:

1 – Electrodiagnostic tests

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Electrodiagnostic tests may include electromyography (EMG) to evaluate the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles, and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) – also called nerve conduction study (NCS) – to determinate the speed of conduction of an electrical impulse through a nerve.

2 – Blood and urine

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Blood and urine tests may include high-resolution serum protein electrophoresis, thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels, and 24-hour urine collection for heavy metals.

3 – Spinal tap

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A spinal tap is a medical procedure also known as a lumbar puncture and is used to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

4 – X-ray and MRI

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These kinds of tests may include x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for signs in the bone and organ structures.

5 – Myelogram of cervical spine

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Myelogram of a cervical spine, an imaging procedure that uses a contrast dye and X-rays, or computed tomography (CT).

6 – Biopsy

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A biopsy may include a muscle and/or nerve sample tissue to examine more closely.

7 – Neurological Examination

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A thorough neurological examination in order to do an assessment of sensory neuron and motor responses, especially reflexes, to determine whether the nervous system is impaired.

Learn more about ALS here: https://bit.ly/ALSNewsToday