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M s diagnosis tests. Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis: Comprehensive Guide to Tests and Criteria

How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed. What tests are used to confirm MS. Can blood tests diagnose multiple sclerosis. What are the McDonald Criteria for MS diagnosis. How does MRI help in diagnosing multiple sclerosis. What role does cerebrospinal fluid analysis play in MS diagnosis. Why is early and accurate diagnosis of MS important.

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Understanding the Complexity of Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological condition that requires a comprehensive diagnostic approach. Unlike many other diseases, there is no single definitive test that can conclusively diagnose MS. Instead, healthcare providers must rely on a combination of clinical assessments, medical history, and various diagnostic tools to piece together the puzzle of MS diagnosis.

The Challenge of Diagnosing MS

Why is diagnosing MS so challenging? The primary reason lies in the diverse nature of MS symptoms and their similarity to other neurological conditions. MS can affect various parts of the central nervous system, leading to a wide array of symptoms that may mimic other disorders. This complexity necessitates a careful and methodical approach to diagnosis.

The Revised McDonald Criteria: A Framework for MS Diagnosis

The Revised McDonald Criteria, published in 2017, serve as the gold standard for MS diagnosis. These criteria provide a structured framework for healthcare providers to assess potential MS cases. But what exactly do these criteria entail?

  • Evidence of damage in at least two separate areas of the central nervous system (CNS)
  • Proof that the damage occurred at different points in time
  • Exclusion of all other possible diagnoses

These criteria allow for earlier diagnosis of MS, potentially leading to more timely treatment and better patient outcomes. How do healthcare providers gather the necessary evidence to meet these criteria? Let’s explore the various diagnostic tools and techniques used in MS diagnosis.

The Role of Medical History and Neurological Examination

The diagnostic process for MS typically begins with a thorough medical history and neurological examination. These initial steps are crucial in identifying potential MS symptoms and ruling out other conditions.

Comprehensive Medical History

What information do healthcare providers look for in a patient’s medical history? They focus on:

  • Past and present symptoms that might be caused by MS
  • Birthplace and family history
  • Environmental exposures
  • History of other illnesses
  • Travel history

This detailed history helps healthcare providers identify patterns and risk factors that may point towards an MS diagnosis.

Neurological Examination

A comprehensive neurological exam is a critical component of MS diagnosis. What does this examination involve? Healthcare providers assess various neurological functions, including:

  • Cranial nerve function (vision, hearing, facial sensation, strength, swallowing)
  • Sensation
  • Reflexes
  • Coordination
  • Walking and balance

These assessments can reveal neurological deficits that may be indicative of MS. In many cases, the medical history and neurological exam provide sufficient evidence to meet the diagnostic criteria for MS. However, additional tests are often necessary to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions.

Advanced Imaging Techniques: The Power of MRI in MS Diagnosis

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the diagnosis and monitoring of MS. This powerful imaging technique allows healthcare providers to visualize the brain and spinal cord in great detail, revealing the characteristic lesions associated with MS.

How MRI Aids in MS Diagnosis

MRI plays a crucial role in meeting the McDonald Criteria for MS diagnosis. How does it contribute to the diagnostic process?

  • Detecting lesions in different areas of the CNS, demonstrating dissemination in space
  • Identifying new or enlarging lesions over time, confirming dissemination in time
  • Ruling out other conditions that may mimic MS

The ability of MRI to detect MS lesions, even in the earliest stages of the disease, has greatly improved the speed and accuracy of MS diagnosis. This early detection is crucial for initiating timely treatment and potentially slowing disease progression.

Types of MRI Scans Used in MS Diagnosis

Several types of MRI scans may be employed in the diagnosis of MS. These include:

  • T1-weighted scans: Show “black holes” indicative of permanent tissue damage
  • T2-weighted scans: Reveal both old and new lesions
  • FLAIR (Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery): Enhances the visibility of MS lesions
  • Contrast-enhanced scans: Highlight active, inflammatory lesions

The combination of these various MRI techniques provides a comprehensive picture of MS-related brain and spinal cord changes, aiding in both diagnosis and disease monitoring.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis: Uncovering Clues in the CNS

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can provide valuable insights in the diagnosis of MS. This procedure, known as a lumbar puncture or spinal tap, involves collecting a small sample of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

The Significance of Oligoclonal Bands

One of the key findings in CSF analysis for MS is the presence of oligoclonal bands. What are oligoclonal bands, and why are they important in MS diagnosis?

Oligoclonal bands are proteins called immunoglobulins that indicate an immune response within the central nervous system. Their presence in the CSF, but not in the blood, suggests that the immune system is actively producing antibodies within the CNS – a hallmark of MS.

According to the Revised McDonald Criteria, the presence of oligoclonal bands in the CSF can, in some cases, be used instead of demonstrating dissemination in time to confirm an MS diagnosis. This can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment initiation in some patients.

Other CSF Markers

While oligoclonal bands are the most well-known CSF marker for MS, other components of CSF analysis can also provide valuable diagnostic information:

  • Elevated IgG index: Indicates increased antibody production within the CNS
  • Myelin basic protein: May be elevated during active demyelination
  • Neurofilament light chain: A marker of neuronal damage

These additional markers can help support an MS diagnosis and provide insights into disease activity and progression.

The Role of Blood Tests in MS Diagnosis

While there is no definitive blood test for MS, blood tests play a crucial role in the diagnostic process. How do blood tests contribute to MS diagnosis?

Ruling Out Other Conditions

The primary purpose of blood tests in MS diagnosis is to rule out other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms. These conditions may include:

  • Lupus erythematosus
  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Certain infections
  • Rare hereditary diseases

By excluding these conditions, healthcare providers can narrow down the diagnosis and increase confidence in an MS diagnosis.

Emerging Blood-Based Biomarkers

While not yet part of routine clinical practice, research is ongoing to identify blood-based biomarkers that could aid in MS diagnosis and monitoring. Some promising candidates include:

  • Neurofilament light chain (NfL): A marker of neuronal damage
  • Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1): Associated with disease activity and progression
  • MicroRNAs: Small RNA molecules that may reflect disease processes

These biomarkers, while still in the research phase, hold promise for improving the speed and accuracy of MS diagnosis in the future.

Evoked Potentials: Measuring Nerve Conduction in MS

Evoked potential tests measure the electrical activity of the brain in response to stimulation of specific sensory nerve pathways. These tests can be particularly useful in identifying areas of damage in the central nervous system that may not be apparent on MRI.

Types of Evoked Potential Tests

Several types of evoked potential tests may be used in MS diagnosis:

  • Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP): Measure the brain’s response to visual stimuli
  • Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP): Assess the auditory nerve pathway
  • Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP): Evaluate sensory pathways in the spinal cord and brain

How do these tests contribute to MS diagnosis? They can reveal slowed conduction of nerve signals, which may indicate areas of demyelination even in the absence of clinical symptoms. This can be particularly useful in confirming dissemination in space, one of the key criteria for MS diagnosis.

Advantages of Evoked Potential Tests

Evoked potential tests offer several advantages in the context of MS diagnosis:

  • Non-invasive and well-tolerated by patients
  • Can detect subclinical lesions not visible on MRI
  • May provide evidence of past damage, even if symptoms have resolved
  • Useful in monitoring disease progression over time

While not always necessary for diagnosis, evoked potential tests can provide valuable supplementary information in challenging cases or when MRI results are inconclusive.

The Importance of Differential Diagnosis in MS

Given the complex nature of MS symptoms and their overlap with other neurological conditions, differential diagnosis is a critical aspect of the MS diagnostic process. What does differential diagnosis involve, and why is it so important?

Conditions That Can Mimic MS

Several conditions can present with symptoms similar to MS, making differential diagnosis essential. These conditions may include:

  • Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)
  • Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Lyme disease
  • Certain vascular disorders

Accurately distinguishing MS from these conditions is crucial, as the treatment approaches and prognoses can differ significantly.

The Process of Differential Diagnosis

How do healthcare providers approach differential diagnosis in suspected MS cases? The process typically involves:

  1. Careful evaluation of symptoms and medical history
  2. Comprehensive neurological examination
  3. Targeted laboratory tests to rule out specific conditions
  4. Specialized imaging studies, including MRI with specific protocols
  5. Consultation with other specialists when necessary

This systematic approach helps ensure that MS is accurately diagnosed and that patients receive the most appropriate treatment for their condition.

The Future of MS Diagnosis: Emerging Technologies and Approaches

As our understanding of MS continues to evolve, so too do the tools and techniques used in its diagnosis. What emerging technologies and approaches might shape the future of MS diagnosis?

Advanced Imaging Techniques

Several advanced imaging techniques are showing promise in improving MS diagnosis and monitoring:

  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): Provides detailed images of the retina, potentially revealing early signs of MS-related damage
  • PET Imaging: May help identify active inflammation and measure myelin repair
  • 7T MRI: Ultra-high-field MRI that offers unprecedented detail of brain structures

These advanced imaging methods could provide more sensitive and specific markers of MS-related changes, potentially leading to earlier and more accurate diagnoses.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to MS diagnosis is an exciting area of research. How might AI contribute to MS diagnosis?

  • Automated analysis of MRI scans to detect and quantify lesions
  • Pattern recognition in clinical data to identify MS subtypes
  • Predictive models for disease progression and treatment response

While still in the early stages, these AI-driven approaches hold the potential to enhance the speed and accuracy of MS diagnosis and prognosis.

Personalized Medicine Approaches

The future of MS diagnosis may also involve more personalized approaches, taking into account an individual’s genetic profile, environmental exposures, and other factors. This could lead to:

  • Tailored diagnostic protocols based on individual risk factors
  • Earlier identification of high-risk individuals
  • More precise classification of MS subtypes

These personalized approaches could not only improve diagnosis but also guide more targeted treatment strategies.

As research in these areas continues, the field of MS diagnosis is likely to see significant advancements in the coming years, offering hope for earlier detection and more effective management of this complex neurological condition.

How is MS Diagnosed | National Multiple Sclerosis Society

No single test can diagnose MS. The medical history, neurologic exam and lab tests help healthcare providers rule out other diseases and confirm the MS diagnosis.


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In this article

    Overview

    At this time, there are no symptoms, physical findings or laboratory tests that can, by themselves, determine if you have MS. Several strategies are used to determine if you meet the long-established criteria for a diagnosis of MS, and to rule out other possible causes of whatever symptoms you are experiencing. These strategies include a careful medical history, a neurologic exam and various tests including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spinal fluid analysis, and blood tests to rule out other conditions.

    Timely and accurate diagnosis


    There are many possible causes of neurological symptoms. When MS is considered as a potential diagnosis, other causes must be excluded — through the tools and tests outlined below — before an MS diagnosis is considered definitive. While this process of exclusion may be quick for some, it can also take much longer, with repeat testing sometimes needed. Making the diagnosis of MS as quickly and accurately as possible is important for several reasons:

    • You are living with frightening and uncomfortable symptoms and need to know the reason for your discomfort. Getting the diagnosis allows you to begin the adjustment process and relieves worries about other diseases such as cancer.
    • Since we now know that permanent neurologic damage can occur even in the earliest stages of MS, it is important to confirm the diagnosis so that you can start the appropriate treatment(s) as early in the disease process as possible.

    Criteria for a diagnosis of MS

    At this time, there are no symptoms, physical findings or laboratory tests that can — by themselves — determine if you have MS. The doctor uses several strategies to determine if you meet the MS diagnostic criteria. In order to make a diagnosis of MS, the physician must:

    • Find evidence of damage in at least two separate areas of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves AND
    • Find evidence that the damage occurred at different points in time AND
    • Rule out all other possible diagnoses

    The Revised McDonald Criteria, published In 2017 by the International Panel on the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, include specific guidelines for using MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis to speed the diagnostic process. The MRI can be used to look for a second area of damage in a person who has experienced only one attack (also called a relapse or an exacerbation) of MS-like symptoms — referred to as clinically-isolated syndrome (CIS). The MRI can also be used to confirm that damage has occurred at two different points in time. In some circumstances, the presence of oligoclonal bands in a person’s cerebrospinal fluid analysis can be used instead of dissemination in time to confirm the MS diagnosis

    Tools for making a diagnosis

    Medical history and neurologic exam

    Your healthcare provider:

    • Takes a careful history to identify any past or present symptoms that might be caused by MS.
    • Gathers information about birthplace, family history, environmental exposures, history of other illnesses and places traveled that might provide further clues.
    • Performs a comprehensive neurologic exam, which includes tests of cranial nerves (vision, hearing, facial sensation, strength, swallowing), sensation, reflexes, coordination, walking and balance.

    In many instances, medical history and neurologic exam provide enough evidence to meet the diagnostic criteria. Other tests are used to confirm the diagnosis or to identify other possible causes of the symptoms or neurological exam findings.

    Blood tests

    While there is no definitive blood test for MS, blood tests can rule out other conditions that cause symptoms similar to those of MS, including lupus erythematosis, Sjogren’s, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, some infections, and rare hereditary diseases.

    Find an MS care provider

    The National MS Society’s Partners in MS Care program connects you to local health care providers and medical facilities that have demonstrated exceptional care, knowledge and expertise in treating patients with MS. All partners, whether they are a neurologist or social worker, have a strong relationship with the Society and connect their patients to the information, resources and support they need to live their best lives with MS. Find a Partner in MS Care.

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    How Doctors Test for MS

    Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors, Alexandra Benisek

    Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on January 24, 2023

    • What Do Doctors Look For?
    • Multiple Sclerosis Tests
    • McDonald Criteria for MS
    • After a Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
    • MS Specialists

    It can be a challenge for doctors to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS). There’s no single test that can prove you have it. And many conditions have symptoms that seem like those of MS.

    A neurologist – a doctor who specializes in treating the disease – should be able to help. They’ll ask how you’re feeling and help you figure out if your symptoms mean you have MS or another problem.

    MS can take some time and a number of tests to diagnose. It starts when you or your doctor notices certain signs or symptoms that could be MS. These might include:

    • Numbness or tingling in the skin (typically, hands or feet)
    • Unusual weakness in arms, legs, or fingers
    • Slurred speech
    • Stumbling or trouble walking
    • Double vision or loss of color
    • Flashing lights that others can’t see
    • Eye pain that gets worse with movement

    When you first notice these symptoms, especially if they are serious, your doctor will rule out other possible causes like stroke, tumor, or pressure on the spinal cord. If the symptoms last more than a couple of days, even if they go away on their own, it may be time to see a neurologist who specializes in MS to speed up diagnosis and start treatment.

    If your doctors suspect MS, they will look for further symptoms and signs that suggest MS. To make a final MS diagnosis, they will use several tools to try and do three things:

    • Rule out any other conditions that could cause your symptoms
    • Find damage to at least two spots on your brain
    • Prove the damage happened at different points in time 

    These tests will help your doctor know if your brain and spinal cord are working as they should. These include:

    MRI: This imaging test lets the doctor take a closer look at your brain. They can see changes caused by multiple sclerosis, like signs of inflammation in the deep parts of your brain or spinal cord.

    Older people or those with high blood pressure and diabetes also can have the same kinds of spots on a brain MRI. So the doctor will consider other info, including your symptoms, along with the scan results or the enhancement of lesions before they make a diagnosis.

    Also, an MRI result that says things are normal doesn’t rule out MS. You could be one of a small number of people who have lesions in places the scan can’t show.

    Learn more about using MRI to diagnose MS.

    Lumbar puncture: This test, which you may also hear called a spinal tap, checks the fluid that runs through your spinal column. Doctors use it to look for high levels of proteins and other substances that are signs of the disease. It can help diagnose MS, but it, too, isn’t absolute proof.

    Know what to expect with a spinal tap to diagnose MS.

    Blood tests: They can’t diagnose MS, but the doctor will use them to look for substances in your blood that point to it. Most importantly, they can help your doctor rule out conditions that look like MS.

    Get more information about other types of demyelinating disorders that look like MS.

    Eye exam: An eye exam could reveal problems that MS sometimes causes. Your doctor will test how well you can see detail far away, your field of vision, eye muscle strength, and pressure inside the eyeball, among other things. Possible MS-related conditions might include:

    • Optic neuritis: Damage to the optic nerve that often causes pain as well as blind spots surrounded by areas of normal vision
    • Nystagmus: Eyes move rhythmically back and forth or up and down without conscious effort. May be due to nerve damage, especially in the brainstem or cerebellum.
    • Diplopia: Double vision that happens due to damage to the nerve pathways that control the eyes. It can be an early symptom of MS.

    Evoked potential test: If you have unusual symptoms, your doctor may do this to check your nerve function. This test uses electrodes to measure electrical activity in areas of your brain triggered by touch, sound, or light. This might happen while you look at a pattern on a screen, listen to clicking sounds, or get electrical pulses on your body.

    The McDonald criteria, named for neurologist Ian McDonald, are measures aimed at helping doctors diagnose MS more accurately and quickly. First published in 2001, they’ve been revised several times, according to the latest research.

    To diagnose you with MS under these criteria, doctors need evidence that you have damage in more than one distinct part of your nervous system. You also need to have had symptoms typical of MS. These symptoms must have lasted at least 24 hours (not necessarily continuously), at a time when you had no fever or infection.

    The evidence must show that this damage happened over time and corresponds to nerves involved in an MS attack. That could mean you’ve had two separate MS attacks at least 30 days apart. But you could be diagnosed after just one episode of symptoms, if an MRI shows you have MS lesions that occurred earlier in a certain area of your brain.

    The McDonald criteria take into account:

    • Your symptoms
    • How many attacks you’ve had
    • Results of imaging tests like MRI
    • Findings of optical coherence tomography, which examines your retinas
    • Results of other tests, like those done on your spinal fluid after a lumbar puncture

    Other possible causes of your condition also need to have been ruled out.

    It may take a long time to figure out that you have MS. If you’ve been waiting years or months, the news might be a relief. Or it could be a huge shock. Either way, you’ll have concerns about what the disease means for your life and your family. That’s completely understandable.

    Talk with others – your friends, your doctor, a support group, or a counselor – about your feelings. Your health care team can help you decide the best ways to treat your disease and live with it day to day. MS affects everyone differently, so what works for one person with the condition may not be what’s best for you.

    Your MS specialist will most likely be a neurologist. Neurologists are either Doctors of Medicine (MDs) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who have completed residencies in neurology. They’ll have a broad understanding of diseases that involve your nervous system (such as MS).

    Other members of your care team may be MDs or DOs who are trained in family medicine, internal medicine, or other specialties such as physical medicine and rehabilitation.

    Nurse practitioners and physician assistants may also be involved in helping implement your treatment plan and helping you to live your healthiest life.

    In addition to your general doctor, your MS specialist can give you extra care for your condition. They can:

    • Personalize your MS care to your specific wants and needs.
    • Notify you when there are new medications or treatments for MS.
    • Alert you if there is a new clinical trial for MS.
    • Care for your emotional health and rehabilitation.
    • Consider your family’s well-being during your treatment.
    • Help you return to a desirable level of function.
    • Help you meet your fitness goals.

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    Collection of diagnostic information – Azure Test Plans

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    • Article

    Azure DevOps Services | Azure DevOps Server 2022 – Azure DevOps Server 2019 | TFS 2018

    Collection of diagnostic data during application testing.
    This data will be included in the error files during the test. You can collect diagnostic data from web and desktop apps and view it in Azure Test Plans.

    Prerequisites

    • You must be connected to the project. If you don’t have a project yet, create it.
    • Must be added to the project. To add it, add users to the project or team.
    • You must have stakeholder access or higher to request or leave feedback.
    • To add or edit errors or other types of work items, this node must have permission “Edit Work Items ” in field “Allow ” in the corresponding path of area .
    • To add new tags, you must set the permission on tag definition create to Allow .

    See Setting Permissions and Testing Access for more information.

    Collection of diagnostic data from web and desktop applications

    For web applications under test, you can use the web-based Microsoft Test Runner.
    For desktop applications, download and install the Test Runner desktop client to collect the following on-demand data:

    • screenshots;
    • Image action log
    • Screen recordings

    Viewing Exploratory tests and submitting feedback directly from the browser.

    Screenshot

    Screenshot of notes from the application:

    1. Open the test runner and click the screenshot icon of entry .
      Make sure the application from which you want to capture data is selected.

    2. Drag the shape to select the area of ​​the screen you want to capture, or simply capture the entire screen.

    3. If necessary, change the title of the screenshot and add notes and text to it using the icons in the toolbar.

    4. Save a screenshot.

    Image activity log

    Capture the interaction with the web or desktop app as an image activity log that provides context:

    1. Open or switch to the test runner and click the Record user activity. .. icon.
      Make sure the application from which you want to capture data is selected.

    2. The test runner now records all actions performed in the application’s browser tab or desktop application.

      If you create an error when recording activities, all data collected up to that point will be included in this error.

    3. End capturing activities by pressing the button “Stop “. The activity log is added to the test results as an attachment.

    4. Click the ActionLog… link at the bottom of the window to view the data captured in the action log.

      The log will open in a web browser.

    Screen recording

    Screen recording screen recording from apps:

    1. Open or switch to the test runner and click the entry screen icon .

    2. Select full screen or select application to start recording.

      When an error is generated during screen recording, the recording is automatically stopped and appended to it.

    3. End recording activities by pressing the button “Stop “. The entry is added to the test results as an attachment.

      If the recording does not stop after 10 minutes, it stops automatically and is saved as an attachment to the test results.
      If necessary, restart recording recording screen icon .

    4. Click the ScreenRecording… link at the bottom of the window to view the recorded recording.

    View diagnostic data

    When an error is generated while recording diagnostic data, all data captured up to that point is included in the generated error. It can be viewed before saving the error.

    Help topics play video recordings created with the extension?

    If you want to collect advanced diagnostic data such as code coverage, IntelliTrace, and test impact data, in addition to the data items listed above, you must configure data collectors and other run options in Microsoft Test Manager and run tests using Microsoft Test Manager. For more information, see “Performing Manual Tests with Microsoft Test Manager”.

    Note

    If you have an older version of Microsoft Test Manager, we recommend that you upgrade to the latest version.
    However, if you have Microsoft Test Manager 2015 or earlier installed, you can select Microsoft Test Runner 2015 and earlier versions when you start the test runner using launch options .
    You must configure data collectors and other run options in Microsoft Test Manager and specify them as the default settings for the test plan.
    For more information, see “Performing Manual Tests with Microsoft Test Manager”.

    • Exploratory test and submit feedback directly from the browser
    • Overview of manual and exploratory testing
    • Testing various configurations
    • Test results management
    • Frequently asked questions about manual testing

    Self diagnostics for Teams administrators – Microsoft Teams

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    • Applies to:
      Teams

    Summary

    As the use of Microsoft Teams grows, Microsoft has developed custom Teams diagnostic scripts that cover key support topics and the most common tasks for which administrators request setup help. It’s important to note that while these diagnostics can’t make changes to the client, they provide information about known issues and instructions that you need to quickly resolve problems.

    Note.

    This feature is not available for Microsoft 365 Government, Microsoft 365 operated by 21Vianet, or Microsoft 365 Germany.

    While signed in as an administrator, visit the Microsoft 365 admin center. In the navigation pane, select Show all > Support > Create a service request . After a brief description of the problem (for example, “I can’t invite a guest to Teams”), the system will determine if the diagnostic script matches your problem.

    Note.

    When you enter search terms, an auto-complete query helps you find the topics you are looking for.

    Enter your organization’s root URL. In the Guest Access Diagnostics pane, click the drop-down arrow, select the pre-populated tenant URL, and then select Run Tests .

    After the diagnostic checks are completed and a configuration problem is found, the system provides instructions on how to resolve the problem. In this example, the tenant administrator has not enabled guest access:

    If the diagnostic finds a problem and you apply a fix based on the results, consider running the diagnostic again to make sure the problem is completely resolved.

    When IT administrators run customer diagnostics in the Microsoft 365 admin center to resolve issues without logging support requests, Microsoft makes donations to global nonprofits.

    See Diagnostics for Social Good for more information.

    What scenarios are currently being considered?

    You must be an M365 administrator to run diagnostics.

    The following diagnostics are currently available with short script descriptions and command combinations:

    Category Diagnostics Description Link to label Support Article
    Authentication Sign in to Teams Checks if the user can sign in to the Teams app. Running tests: Sign in to Teams Troubleshooting Teams sign-in errors
    Authentication Federation Teams Checks if a Teams user can interact with federated Teams users. Running tests: Teams federation External access control (federation)
    Authentication Unable to invite guest users to Teams Checks if a specific guest can sign in to Teams. Running tests: Teams guest access Guest access in Microsoft Teams
    Files Guest access to Teams files Checks if guest users can be added to Teams and the command is provided to the user. Running tests: Guest access to Teams files Guests cannot access the Files tab for shared files in Teams
    Files Unable to send files to Teams chat Checks if the specified user can send files in a Teams chat. Running tests: Can’t send files to Teams chat Error sending files to Teams chat
    Files Unable to access files sent to Teams chat Verified that the specified user cannot access files shared with another user in chats. Run tests: Unable to access files posted to Teams chat “You do not have access to this file” error when opening a file in Teams
    Files Unable to access files in command Checks if the specified user has access to the files in the command. Running tests: Can’t access files in command Can’t access the Files tab in a Teams channel
    Meetings Teams Calendar app Verifies that the prerequisites for the Microsoft Teams calendar application are configured correctly. Running tests: Teams calendar app Troubleshooting interoperability issues in Microsoft Teams and Exchange Server
    Meetings Meeting record missing Attempting to find missing Teams meeting records Running Tests: Record Missing Recording a Teams meeting in the cloud
    Meetings Call recording 1:1 Checks user policy for 1:1 call recording capability Running tests: Recording Teams 1:1 calls Problems with meeting recordings
    Meetings The Teams add-in is missing from Outlook Verifies that the user has the correct policies to enable the Teams Outlook add-in. Running tests: Teams add-in is missing from Outlook Troubleshooting issues with the Teams Meeting add-in for Outlook
    Meetings Teams broadcasts Checks if the user can schedule Teams broadcasts. Running Tests: Teams 9 Live Events0298

    Troubleshooting broadcasts in Microsoft Teams
    Meetings Teams meeting recordings Verifies that the user is set up correctly to record a meeting in Teams. Run tests: meeting recording Recording a Teams meeting in the cloud
    Presence presence in Teams Verifies that the user’s Teams presence is displayed correctly. Running tests: Teams 9 presence status0298

    Actual presence status is not displayed in Teams
    Voice Teams Direct Routing Checks if the user is correctly configured for direct routing. Running Tests: Teams Direct Routing Diagnosing problems with direct routing
    Voice Teams call queue Checks if the call queue can receive calls. Running tests: Teams 9 call queue0298

    Create a call queue in Microsoft Teams
    Voice Teams dial pad is missing Checks if the dial pad is visible in Teams. Running tests: Teams dial pad is missing The dialpad is missing from Teams
    Voice Can’t make local or international PSTN calls in Teams Checks if the user is able to make or receive domestic or international PSTN calls. Running tests: PSTN in Teams Set up Microsoft billing plans
    Voice Unable to join or create a Teams conference Checks if the user has the ability to create or join a PSTN conference call. Running tests: Teams conference See the list of users who have audio conferencing enabled in Microsoft Teams
    Voice Teams auto attendant Checks if the auto attendant can receive calls.

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