Multiple sclerosis (MS): general investigations

Baseline investigations

• Full blood count
• Inflammatory markers
• Renal function tests
• Liver function tests
• Calcium
• Blood glucose
• Thyroid function tests
• Vitamin B12 level

Serology

Anti MOG antibody

Other autoantibodies

Metabolic tests

Electrocardiogram (ECG) for QTc analysis

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies

Other general tests

References

1. Scolding N. The differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. JNNP 2001; 71(Suppl 2):ii9-15.
2. Multiple sclerosis: management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care. NICE clinical guidelines [CG186]. October 2014.
3. Perry M, Swain S, Kemmis-Betty S, Guideline Development Group of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Multiple sclerosis: summary of NICE guidelines. BMJ 2014; 349:g5701.
4. Spadaro M, Gerdes LA, Krumbholz M, et al. Autoantibodies to MOG in a distinct subgroup of adult multiple sclerosis. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2016; 3:e257.
5. Vietzen H, Kühner LM, Berger SM, et al. Epstein-Barr virus antibodies to differentiate multiple sclerosis from other neuroinflammatory diseases. JAMA Neurol 2026; 83:461-470.
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Related checklists

• Multiple sclerosis (MS): magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): protocol
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): features
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): inflammatory MRI differentials
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): other MRI differentials
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): ophthalmological tests