Unfortunately, ALS is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Some patients take over a year from the first onset of symptoms for ALS to receive an accurate diagnosis, with up to 68% of ALS patients initially misdiagnosed. Patients are often shuttled between medical specialists before finally being evaluated by a neurologist with ALS experience.

A new rapid blood test for ALS has been developed by scientists at the not-for-profit Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Based on analysis of 788 patient blood samples, including 393 ALS patients and 395 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, this new test can identify a person who has ALS with 97% accuracy from a single blood draw. In addition, this new test can also rule out patients who do not have ALS.