The sooner you have answers about your condition, the sooner we can begin customized treatments to improve your health.
Sentara is proud to have pioneered a state-of-the-art laboratory where our experts perform diagnostic tests to assess neuromuscular conditions. We proudly offer a fully equipped autonomic laboratory, featuring state-of-the-art technology including thermoregulatory sweat testing (TST). The laboratory is one of seven known locations that provide a similar service in the United States and the only one in the mid-Atlantic region.
We test nerve and muscle function to aid in precisely diagnosing conditions such as ALS and muscular dystrophy. We know accurate diagnosis is critical to effective treatment.
Balancing testing with answers
As we seek to accurately identify your condition, our goal is to also minimize testing. Depending on your symptoms and your medical history, we may recommend a limited number of tests and additional exams and scans as follows:
Blood tests: We check for antibodies associated with myasthenia gravis and signs of diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, kidney problems or other metabolic conditions.
Electrodiagnostic testing (formerly known as Electromyography-Nerve Conduction Tests EMG/NCS): We insert an electrode into one of your muscles to measure electrical activity when you contract and relax the muscle. Certain changes in electrical activity indicate a neuromuscular disease.
Enzyme tests: When muscles start breaking down, they release certain enzymes into your blood. High levels of these enzymes could indicate muscular dystrophy.
Genetic testing: Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease. We may ask to do genetic testing on you and other family members to look for gene mutations related to the disease.
Heart rate variability to deep breathing: This tests measures how well your heart rate responds (by increasing or decreasing) during one minute of deep breathing.
Imaging tests: We may recommend a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a test that produces detailed images of soft tissues and organs inside your body. We will look for tumors in your thymus gland and other conditions that may be related to your symptoms.
Infrared dynamic pupillometry (IDP): This test measures how well your pupils react to changes in light.
Muscle biopsy: We take a small sample of your muscle tissue and analyze it. This helps us determine if your symptoms result from muscular dystrophy or a different condition.
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV): Our test can precisely measure your nerve damage.
Nerve biopsy: This biopsy will analyze which of your nerves are damaged.
Quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART): This test measures your body’s ability to produce sweat in response to acetylcholine. A chemical messenger from the brain, acetylcholine stimulates sweat glands.
Skin biopsy: With this procedure, we will examine nerve endings in your skin.
Spinal fluid test: We check for abnormal cells in your spinal fluid.
Thermoregulatory sweat testing (TST): We use thermoregulatory sweat chambers to measure your sweat response in a monitored, heated environment.
Tilt table test: You’ll lie down, and we’ll gently and securely strap you onto a stretcher-like table. Then, we gradually tilt the table until you’re in an upright position. We check to see if your blood pressure drops and assess your symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness.
Valsalva maneuver: To perform this test, you will pinch your nose, close your mouth and blow out as if you’re trying to inflate a balloon. As you blow out against pressure, we measure changes in your heart rate and blood pressure. This helps us assess how well your autonomic nervous system responds.
Sentara is proud to have pioneered a state-of-the-art laboratory where our experts perform diagnostic tests to assess neuromuscular conditions. We proudly offer a fully equipped autonomic laboratory, featuring state-of-the-art technology including thermoregulatory sweat testing (TST). The laboratory is one of seven known locations that provide a similar service in the United States and the only one in the mid-Atlantic region.
We test nerve and muscle function to aid in precisely diagnosing conditions such as ALS and muscular dystrophy. We know accurate diagnosis is critical to effective treatment.
Balancing testing with answers
As we seek to accurately identify your condition, our goal is to also minimize testing. Depending on your symptoms and your medical history, we may recommend a limited number of tests and additional exams and scans as follows:
Blood tests: We check for antibodies associated with myasthenia gravis and signs of diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, kidney problems or other metabolic conditions.
Electrodiagnostic testing (formerly known as Electromyography-Nerve Conduction Tests EMG/NCS): We insert an electrode into one of your muscles to measure electrical activity when you contract and relax the muscle. Certain changes in electrical activity indicate a neuromuscular disease.
Enzyme tests: When muscles start breaking down, they release certain enzymes into your blood. High levels of these enzymes could indicate muscular dystrophy.
Genetic testing: Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease. We may ask to do genetic testing on you and other family members to look for gene mutations related to the disease.
Heart rate variability to deep breathing: This tests measures how well your heart rate responds (by increasing or decreasing) during one minute of deep breathing.
Imaging tests: We may recommend a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a test that produces detailed images of soft tissues and organs inside your body. We will look for tumors in your thymus gland and other conditions that may be related to your symptoms.
Infrared dynamic pupillometry (IDP): This test measures how well your pupils react to changes in light.
Muscle biopsy: We take a small sample of your muscle tissue and analyze it. This helps us determine if your symptoms result from muscular dystrophy or a different condition.
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV): Our test can precisely measure your nerve damage.
Nerve biopsy: This biopsy will analyze which of your nerves are damaged.
Quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART): This test measures your body’s ability to produce sweat in response to acetylcholine. A chemical messenger from the brain, acetylcholine stimulates sweat glands.
Skin biopsy: With this procedure, we will examine nerve endings in your skin.
Spinal fluid test: We check for abnormal cells in your spinal fluid.
Thermoregulatory sweat testing (TST): We use thermoregulatory sweat chambers to measure your sweat response in a monitored, heated environment.
Tilt table test: You’ll lie down, and we’ll gently and securely strap you onto a stretcher-like table. Then, we gradually tilt the table until you’re in an upright position. We check to see if your blood pressure drops and assess your symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness.
Valsalva maneuver: To perform this test, you will pinch your nose, close your mouth and blow out as if you’re trying to inflate a balloon. As you blow out against pressure, we measure changes in your heart rate and blood pressure. This helps us assess how well your autonomic nervous system responds.