MS testing is the process by which medical doctors determine whether a patient has MS. There are numerous steps involved in testing for multiple sclerosis.

What Does Testing for Multiple Sclerosis Involve?

The steps involved in MS testing include taking the patient’s medical history. This establishes, first and foremost, whether there are or have been any symptoms worthy of concern over a significant period of time. The next step in the process of testing for multiple sclerosis involves performing a neurological examination. This is the process by which a doctor examines spinal cord and brain function by asking a series of questions, by having the patient perform certain tasks, and by physically examining the patient. If, indeed, it turns out that the patient has neurological symptoms, then this might be an indication that the patient has multiple sclerosis. It might also be an indication that the patient …

MS is extremely difficult to diagnose with one test alone. Also, a single MS testing method doesn’t exist for diagnosing MS. A number of different Multiple Sclerosis testing techniques are used and the process of elimination is put into effect to rule out other diseases. For instance, a blood test will rule out viruses, inflammatory diseases, and other infectious illnesses that appear to be very similar to MS in their list of signs and symptoms.

A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap as it is sometimes referred to, is used to eliminate viral infections that cause white blood cells to increase in numbers, which also occurs in MS. These proteins are contained in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid taken from the lower portion of the spine. When the number of white blood cells increases, neurological symptoms can arise and appear to be the start of Multiple Sclerosis.

MRIs are often the …