Test
Diagnosis is normally made on signs and symptoms, but doctors may also use lab tests and imaging:
- CRP – may rise with inflammation
- ESR - may rise with inflammation
- FBC – to look for excess white cells which might show infection
- HLA-B27– In the UK most ankylosing spondylitis patients have this gene
- X-rays or other imaging such as MRI – typical changes seen on X-ray are the ‘bamboo sign’ which is due to new bone growth
