In short
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed from symptoms using criteria that look at how widespread your pain is, how severe fatigue, sleep and thinking problems are, and whether symptoms have lasted at least three months. There’s no single test. The old tender point exam is no longer required.
On this page
Is there a test for fibromyalgia?
No blood test, scan or biopsy can diagnose fibromyalgia. It’s a clinical diagnosis, made from your symptoms and history, after considering other conditions that can look similar.
The diagnostic criteria
Most doctors use criteria from the American College of Rheumatology, last revised in 2016. They look at two scores:
- Widespread pain index: how many of 19 body areas have been painful in the past week.
- Symptom severity: how much fatigue, unrefreshing sleep and memory or thinking problems affect you, plus whether you have headaches, lower tummy pain or cramps, or low mood.
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when the combination of these scores reaches set thresholds, pain is present in at least four of five body regions, and symptoms have been present at a similar level for at least three months. Under the 2016 revision, fibromyalgia can be diagnosed even if you have another condition as well.
Widespread pain and exhaustion?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
What happened to the tender points?
Older criteria from 1990 required pain when pressure was applied to at least 11 of 18 specific “tender points”. This is no longer required, because it missed symptoms like fatigue and poor sleep, and the number of tender points varies from day to day.
Tests your doctor may do
Blood tests don’t diagnose fibromyalgia, but they help rule out conditions with similar symptoms. Common tests include:
- full blood count, for anaemia
- inflammation markers
- thyroid function
- vitamin D and iron studies
- liver and kidney function
- muscle enzymes in some people
- antibody tests if an autoimmune condition is suspected
Conditions that can look similar
- Underactive thyroid
- Inflammatory arthritis and lupus
- Polymyalgia rheumatica, in people over 50
- Sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders
- Depression and anxiety, which can also occur alongside fibromyalgia
- Side effects of some medicines
Why a diagnosis helps
A clear diagnosis often brings relief after years of uncertainty, and stops the search for a hidden injury. It means treatment can focus on what works for fibromyalgia. See fibromyalgia treatment.
Getting assessed
A GP can make the diagnosis, arrange blood tests and refer you to a rheumatologist if something else is suspected or the picture is unclear.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, et al. 2016 Revisions to the 2010/2011 fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2016;46(3):319-329.
- Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia: a clinical review. JAMA. 2014;311(15):1547-55.
- Häuser W, Ablin J, Fitzcharles MA, et al. Fibromyalgia. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;1:15022.
- healthdirect. Fibromyalgia.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.