Dementia Slideshow Pictures Alzheimer's Disease Slideshow Pictures Brain Foods Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Norberto Alvarez, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Exams and Tests

Physicians evaluate tremors with clinical examination and diagnostic tests. Some of these tests are as follows:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
  
  
• Liver function tests
  
  
• Kidney function tests
  
  
• Metabolic screening including blood levels of electrolytes, glucose, urea, and nitrogen.
  
  
• Blood calcium and magnesium levels
  
  
• Toxic screening
  
  
• Measuring blood levels of prescribed medications
  
  
• Ceruloplasmin levels, serum and urine copper levels
  
  
• Thyroid hormone levels
  
  
• Cortisol and parathyroid hormone levels
  
  
• Neuroradiological studies: CT Scan, MRI, PET and SPECT.

Some tests, such as surface electromyograms and mechanical recording devices, help to define the rhythmicity, amplitude, and frequency of the tremors as well as the relationship between tremors and movements. These are not highly used in medical practice.

Other tests are useful to diagnose diseases that might be associated with the tremors.

In many instances a clinical examination might be more than enough to establish the diagnosis, and other tests are not indicated.