middle of a desert canyon

ALS Diagnosis and Testing

The Right Diagnosis the First Time

The Gregory W. Fulton ALS and Neuromuscular Disease Center offers advanced testing to diagnose and treat the entire spectrum of neuromuscular disorders. The following diagnostic services are available to you regardless of whether or not your receive treatment or other services at the Fulton neuromuscular clinic:

  • Electromyography (EMG) Laboratory. We are home to Arizona’s only EMG laboratory accredited by the AANEM with exemplary status. We provide reliable, rapid, high-quality diagnostic testing at the hands of our neurophysiologists, each of whom is board certified in clinical neurophysiology. We conduct diagnostic EMG testing of all types, from common disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome or spine disorders, to rare disorders requiring complicated or specialized techniques.
  • Autonomic Laboratory. Our autonomic laboratory can perform a battery of tests to assess your autonomic nervous system, which controls blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, and other bodily functions that carry on without you having to think about them. These tests are a noninvasive way to assess the function of your autonomic nervous system and can help to confirm the diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder.
  • Muscle and Nerve Biopsy. Biopsy of your muscle and nerve tissues can be helpful for diagnosing neuromuscular disorders. In this procedure, a sample of your muscle or nerve is obtained and examined under a microscope by a trained pathologist. At the Fulton Center, our neurologists perform biopsy procedures in an outpatient setting and without general anesthesia.
  • Skin biopsy. A skin biopsy can be performed as part of the evaluation of painful small fiber neuropathy. It is used to count and compare the quantity of nerve fibers in your skin. These biopsies are performed at our clinic under local anesthesia. Most patients are able to resume normal activities immediately after the procedure.