Calprotectin

What is it and who should use it?

It is a non-invasive stool test that can help tell the difference between bowel symptoms caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and those caused by inflammatory conditions such a Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). It can also be used as a means of monitoring patients with IBD.

Calprotectin is a protein that is released into the stool in response to inflammation.

The test is aimed at people who have bowel symptoms who want to help rule out inflammatory causes. It can also be used by people with known IBD.

Is it accurate?

The test is good at telling the difference between inflammatory and non inflammatory causes (around 90%). It is frequently elevated in active IBD.

Like most medical tests the results are best interpreted by medical professionals who have reviewed your symptoms.

What does it involve?

We supply all the equipment you need.

We ask you to complete an online questionnaire about your symptoms as this helps us interpret the result.

You then collect a small sample of your stool and return it to us in the envelope supplied. We then give you access to your results along with advice as to what the result means.

Tests start from £60.