Imaging tests of the brain include:
a computerised tomography (CT) scan: a special X-ray which produces 2- or 3-dimensional images; or
a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (this test uses a large magnet, low-energy radio waves and a computer to produce 2- or 3-dimensional images).
An ultrasound scan of the neck may also be performed to determine whether the stroke was caused by a blocked carotid artery in the neck.
Other tests that may be recommended include blood tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Sometimes a lumbar puncture (where a doctor takes a sample of cerebrospinal fluid – the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord) may be recommended to help diagnose a haemorrhagic stroke caused by a subarachnoid haemorrhage. Lumbar punctures involve inserting a small needle into the back, usually under local anaesthetic.
