Narcolepsy diagnosis is based on symptoms, physical examination and sleep records. Since the major symptoms are non-specific to narcolepsy, several specialized tests such as polysomnograms and multiple sleep latency tests are required to confirm the diagnosis of narcolepsy. Genetic testing of the HLA-DQB1 allele can also be helpful in the clinical diagnosis of narcolepsy.

Polysomnogram

A polysomnogram (PSG) is an overnight test that measures several signals during the sleep cycle to document any abnormalities. It monitors breathing patterns and consists of an electroencephalogram (measurement of electrical activity of the brain), electrocardiogram (electrical activity of the heart), electromyogram (activity of muscles) and electro-oculogram (activity of eyes). The PSG can show if rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs at abnormal times in the sleep cycle, and it can help to eliminate other conditions that may be causing the signs and symptoms.