What are the tests for Myasthenia Gravis?
The initial diagnostic exam for Myasthenia Gravis includes the following: • Evaluation begins with examination by a neurologist. 1 hour. • ” Tensilon test. (A Tensilon test is positive in many patients who have MG, but may actually be negative in 20-30% patients with MG diagnosed by other methods.) 15-30 minutes in the physician’s office. • Acetylcholine receptor antibodies (a blood test). Acetylcholine receptor antibodies are positive in 90% of patients with general myasthenia. The results usually take a week to return from the laboratory. • EMG (electromyogram) is a test to determine the electrical response from the muscle after stimulation of the nerve. 1 hour. An additional test is: • Single-fiber EMG. This test is only performed at specialized centers. The exam itself takes 1-3 hours to perform. A single fiber EMG is considered the best test, being positive in 95-99% of MG patients. In rare patients all these tests are normal, but examination by a neurologist suggest Myasthenia Gr
