Conventional blood tests, such as those to ascertain blood count, and liver and kidney values are inadequate for MS diagnosis. These values are generally within the normal range in MS patients. Special tests of the blood and of the immune system, however, are relevant.
They are used to distinguish MS from other illnesses that can cause symptoms similar to those of MS, such as infectious diseases or disorders of the immune system. A test to find the HLA (human leucocyte antigen) type of the white blood cells as evidence of ‘susceptibility’ to MS can sometimes provide support for MS diagnosis.
