Quantitative faecal calprotectin – laboratory test

Description

Why faecal calprotectin is tested

Calprotectin is a protein found mainly in neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. When the intestinal lining is inflamed, these cells move into the intestinal lumen and release calprotectin, which passes into the stool. Its concentration rises in proportion to the severity of inflammation. The test helps distinguish inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) from irritable bowel syndrome, in which there is no inflammation. It is also used to monitor treatment and detect relapses early.

When to consider this test

• chronic diarrhoea or abdominal pain lasting for weeks,
• suspected irritable bowel syndrome when inflammatory disease needs to be ruled out,
• mucus or blood in the stool, unintentional weight loss (alongside an urgent medical consultation),
• diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease: assessing disease activity and treatment effectiveness,
• during remission, when your doctor wants to detect a relapse early.

How to prepare

No special diet or fasting is required. Pass stool into a clean, dry receptacle or onto a collection pad: the sample must not come into contact with toilet water, urine or cleaning products. Using the scoop provided with the container, collect small portions from several areas of the stool (approximately the size of a walnut in total, up to 1/4 of the container), seal tightly and take it to the collection point. Calprotectin remains stable in the sample for several days. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen, acetylsalicylic acid) and proton pump inhibitors may raise the result; do not stop taking them without your doctor’s approval, but let your doctor know you are taking them.

How to interpret the result

Values are naturally higher in infants and young children, so results are assessed according to age. A normal result does not rule out colorectal cancer or other conditions, and the thresholds on the laboratory report apply.

Other tests to consider

If you have bowel symptoms, consider: faecal occult blood, Helicobacter pylori in stool, coeliac disease antibodies, CRP, full blood count. Read more: Badania-Medyczne.pl.

Sources: ALAB laboratoria, Faecal calprotectin (interpretation thresholds, preparation, factors affecting results, turnaround time); MedlinePlus, Calprotectin Stool Test (use in distinguishing IBD from IBS, effects of NSAIDs and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), sample collection). This information does not replace a medical consultation.