Patients who suspect they may have multiple sclerosis, or MS, may want to consider a few different tests to determine if they have MS. While there is no single definitive test for the disease, there are a few different criteria one must meet as well as different tests available to determine if MS is present.

The Basics

People with MS generally meet certain criteria for having the disease. However, not everyone who is diagnosed with MS will meet these criteria, and your doctor may diagnose you with the disease even if you do not. For example, people who develop MS are generally between 15 and 60, but the ages can vary. They may also have two or more lesions on the brain as MS develops, but this is not always the case, as well. To diagnose MS, your doctor will take a thorough medical history and then perform a neurological exam. Blood tests can also be performed to rule out other causes. In fact, as many as 10 percent of people have been misdiagnosed with MS when they had a disorder that mimicked the disease instead.

The Tests

Besides blood tests, your doctor may order an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging. An MRI is the most convenient way for doctors to investigate any changes to the brain that could be caused by MS, including lesions and scar tissue on the brain and spinal cord. Your doctor may also wish to perform a spinal tap in order to examine the cerebrospinal fluid. This procedure can be very useful in analyzing this fluid but is no longer deemed necessary or vital to perform.

Your doctor may also try a test called evoked potentials. During this test, wires attached to the scalp test the brain’s response to certain electrical stimulations to determine if any visual, sensory, or auditory pathways are impaired.

Sometimes people may be diagnosed with MS when there is no other explanation for their symptoms, but the tests available can help to rule out any other potential health problems and make the diagnosis more definite.