Is there a test to confirm Ankylosing Spondylitis diagnosis?

@basslakebabe19, according to Mayo Clinic, Ankylosing Spondylitis (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354813) is diagnosed through a physical exam and imaging studies (X-ray, MRI). There are no specific lab tests to identify ankylosing spondylitis. Certain blood tests can check for markers of inflammation, but inflammation can be caused by many different health problems.

I'd like to invite fellow members @oregongirl @alempola @therobbs @anon43599718 @brie @tspoon3 @anniebrook and @billindc who may be able to share how they were diagnosed.

You may also be interested in these discussions:
- ankylosing spondylitis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ankylosing-spondylitis/
- Ankylosing Spondylitis + Osteoporosis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ankylosing-spondylitis-osteoporosis/

Hi,
My daughter is going thru one of her flare-ups with the terrible condition. Research has led me to this site. But have you looked at the Spondylitis Organization of America? Their site is:
https://spondylitis.org/
They are also dedicated to this area and might have answers to your questions.
Good Luck

@mjdaniels, welcome the Mayo Clinic Connect and thank you for the link to Spondylitis Organization of America. There is a ton of information on the site. I did a quick tour and found this information regarding diagnosis, @basslakebabe19.
- Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis https://spondylitis.org/about-spondylitis/types-of-spondylitis/ankylosing-spondylitis/diagnosis/

@mjdaniels, I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is experiencing a flare-up right now. What does a flare-up look like for her? What helps?

Thank you for the resources for me to check!

I have ankylosing spondylitis. It was first suspected by my eye doctor. I had uveitis or iritis often. The iris gets inflamed and is very painful. I also had back pain so he suggested I see my doc. I had negative HLA marker so my ignorant doc said I didn't have it. After about a year I saw a rheumatologist who took x-rays and history and said yes I had it. I started taking anti-inflammatory which helped a lot. Finally had gastro bleed years later and can only take pain killers. So back gets worse with stress especially but scoliosis too. It's manageable with Ixprim for me so far.

Hello @smurraysmurray, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience with ankylosing spondylitis. Sorry you are no longer able to take the anti-inflammatory which helped you. There is some treatment information on the Spondylitis.Org website that you might find helpful.

- Treatment of Spondyloarthritis: https://spondylitis.org/about-spondylitis/treatment-information/

You mentioned you are now on Ixprim to manage the pain. Have you tried any other treatments or lifestyle changes to help with the ankylosing spondylitis?

Yes, there are several tests for spondilitis. First, and most accurate, will be the gene sequencing of the particular gene that controls this. I have this. Second, there is a thing called x-Ray, and another called Cat Scan, I think in Chromosome 9. No, no that cat. Sassy gives me the once over whenever I go near her food dish. There are others, but these are very good, especially done together.

Thank you. Helpful!

I believe a blood test is also done to look for a genetic marker called HLA-B27. More than %90 of people that have A.S. Have that genetic marker.