Dr. Bornhorst explains orexin testing's role in diagnosing type 1 narcolepsy and the significance of the test's availability through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
The standard test for the diagnosis of narcolepsy is the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). The MSLT is a complex test to perform as well as to interpret. The orexin-A/hypocretin-1 test is a sensitive and specific alternative to the MSLT to diagnose type 1 narcolepsy.