When to order laboratory tests for your patient with a headache

Laboratory tests can help you identify the cause of your patient's headaches. Learn when and how to use them now.
Last update26th Nov 2020

Using blood tests to diagnose headaches

Laboratory tests for patients with headache may be helpful under certain circumstances. A complete blood count (CBC), thyroid function, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are basic tests that are helpful in evaluating some headache patients.

A basic metabolic panel should include glucose, electrolyte and fluid balance, and kidney function. This panel usually measures the blood levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium, carbon dioxide, chloride, creatinine, glucose, potassium, and sodium.

Figure 1. Laboratory tests for patients with headache include a complete blood count (CBC), thyroid function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), glucose levels, electrolyte and fluid balance, and kidney function such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism may be associated with headaches.

ESR is used to assess for possible giant cell arteritis. Individuals over the age of 50 with new onset headache should have their ESR and / or C-reactive protein (CRP) levels checked to exclude temporal arteritis.

Patients with arthralgias and headache should be considered for antinuclear antibody (ANA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) as well. Don’t forget to test for mononucleosis in a teen with a headache, adenopathy, and fever. When infection is a concern, HIV and Lyme antibodies should be tested for.

Become a great clinician with our video courses and workshops

The role of lumbar puncture in the diagnosis of headaches

Perform a lumbar puncture when infection or subarachnoid hemorrhage is suspected. Red cell counts performed on the first and last tubes can help differentiate a traumatic tap. The cell count will usually dramatically fall in trauma but not in subarachnoid hemorrhage. Look for xanthochromia in spun samples several hours after a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This is preferably done with spectrophotometry, which further increases sensitivity.

Measuring the opening pressure is essential to diagnose intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri. All pressure measures should be undertaken with the patient in the lateral decubitus position with legs extended, not prone or sitting. Pressures > 250 mmH2O are deemed elevated.

In infection, examining the cerebrospinal fluid for white cell count with differential, and glucose, is essential. Cerebrospinal fluid glucose must be compared to serum glucose.

Figure 2. In a patient with headache, lumbar puncture can be used to identify infection, subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracranial hypertension.

The role of EEG in the diagnosis of headaches

An electroencephalogram, or EEG, is not considered useful in the evaluation of headache unless there are concomitant considerations present to consider epilepsy in the diagnosis, such as with atypical migraine aura or recurrent loss or clouding of consciousness. Therefore, EEG is not recommended to rule out structural lesions when MRI or CT are readily available.

Figure 3. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is used to evaluate a patient with headache only when considerations such as an atypical migraine aura or clouded consciousness occur which might suggest a diagnosis of epilepsy.

That’s it for now. If you want to improve your understanding of key concepts in medicine, and improve your clinical skills, make sure to register for a free trial account, which will give you access to free videos and downloads. We’ll help you make the right decisions for yourself and your patients.

Recommended reading

  • Donohoe, CD. 2013. The role of laboratory testing in the evaluation of headache. Med Clin North Am. 97: 217–224. PMID: 23419622
  • Lester, MS and Liu, BP. 2013. Imaging in the evaluation of headache. Med Clin North Am. 97: 243–265. PMID: 23419624
  • Rizzoli P and Mullally, WJ. 2018. Headache. Am J Med. 131: 17–25. PMID: 28939471 
  • Silberstein, SD, Lipton, RB, and Goadsby, PJ. 2002. Headache in Clinical Practice. 2nd edition. London: Martin Dunitz.
  • Young, WB, Silberstein, SD, Nahas, SJ, et al. 2011.  Jefferson Headache Manual. New York: Demos Medical Publishing.

About the author

Robert Coni, DO EdS
Robert is Neurohospitalist, Medical Director, and Coordinator at the Grand Strand Medical Center, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina.
Author Profile

Become an expert

BMA Highly recommendedComenius EduMedia Siegel 2017
Highly commended by the British Medical Association
Awarded in the “digital” category of the BMA Book Awards - London 2017