Diagnosing lupus can be difficult. It can sometimes take a while for doctors and other health professionals to piece together the symptoms to diagnose this complex disease. Making a correct diagnosis of lupus requires good communication between you and your healthcare professional. Giving your medical or health professional a complete, accurate medical history (for example, what health problems you have had and for how long, or if there’s a history of lupus in your family) is critical to the process of diagnosis. This information, along with a physical examination and the results of laboratory tests, can help your healthcare provider consider other diseases that may mimic lupus, or determine if you truly have the disease. Symptoms evolve over time, so seemingly unrelated events may be important clues for your healthcare team.

No single test can determine whether a person has lupus, but several laboratory tests may help to confirm a diagnosis of lupus or rule out other causes for a person’s symptoms. These tests serve as tools to give your healthcare team clues and information in making a diagnosis.

Your healthcare team members may use any or all of the following methods to determine if you have lupus:

• Your medical history: Tell your health professional about your symptoms and other problems you are experiencing. This helps your healthcare team understand what you are experiencing. Your history can provide clues to your disease. Download the lupus symptom checklist here to keep track of your symptoms, and share it with your medical professional.
• A complete physical exam: You will be examined for rashes and other signs that something is wrong.
• Laboratory testing of blood and urine samples: Lupus is considered an “autoimmune disease,” so blood and urine samples may be taken to see how your immune system is working
• Skin or kidney biopsy: In a biopsy, tissue is removed by a minor surgical procedure and is examined under a microscope to determine if there are signs of an autoimmune disease.

If you are experiencing common signs and symptoms of lupus, it is important that you take action. Only a doctor or other health professional can make an accurate diagnosis of lupus.

Symptoms may differ greatly from patient to patient, so you may seek advice from a number of different types of medical specialists. Your healthcare team may include:

• A family doctor (primary care or internal medicine)
• A rheumatologist—a doctor who treats some autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and other diseases that cause swelling in the joints
• A clinical immunologist—a doctor who treats immune system disorders
• A nephrologist—a doctor who treats kidney disease
• A hematologist—a doctor who treats blood disorders
• A dermatologist—a doctor who treats skin diseases and conditions
• A neurologist—a doctor who treats problems with the brain and nervous system
• A cardiologist—a doctor who treats heart and blood vessel problems
• An endocrinologist—a doctor who treats problems related to the glands and hormones
• And various nurses, psychologists, and/or social workers

No matter whom you see, here are some tips for talking with your medical or healthcare professionals:

• Seek a healthcare professional who is familiar with lupus and who will listen to and address your concerns
• Provide complete, accurate medical information
• Make a list of your questions and concerns in advance
• Be honest and share your point of view with the healthcare provider
• Ask for clarification or further explanation if you need it
• Talk to other members of the healthcare team, such as nurses, therapists, or pharmacists
• Do not hesitate to discuss sensitive subjects (for example, birth control, intimacy) with your doctor
• Discuss any treatment changes with your healthcare professional before making them

Download a lupus symptom checklist and important tips on talking to your doctor and other healthcare professionals here.