How accurate is the Calprotectin Gut Inflammation Test?

Our diagnostic testing is carried out by The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), one of the largest laboratories in the UK. TDL test for both the NHS (e.g. University College Hospital London) and private providers such as ourselves and use the exact same testing platforms and procedures in either case. But no test is perfect - there can always be "false positive" and "false negative" results. The calprotectin test is "quantitative" meaning that the result is a number. The number itself is accurate but a high calprotectin doesn't always mean there will be inflammation in the bowel. The value needs to be considered alongside other factors such as your medical history and any symptoms. Using a calprotectin cut-off value of 50µg/g, can exclude significant bowel inflammation with 99% certainty ref .

How much stool is needed for a calprotectin test?

Only a very small amount of stool is needed for an accurate calprotectin result. We use an ultra-modern calprotectin assay which can accurately quantify calprotectin from a small amount of stool scraped onto collection stick. This is the same collection device as used for qFIT tests for blood in the stool and means easy collection with minimal fuss.

Can children take the Calprotectin Test?

Children under 18 years can use the test but will require supervision of an adult.

What do I need to do to prepare for my Calprotectin Test?

It's best to avoid taking NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen) and proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole) for 4 weeks before taking the calprotectin test as these can raise calprotectin levels.

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Calprotectin Test

Take our quick and easy calprotectin stool test to check for inflammation in your gut.

Order an at home test today, take your sample and then send it off to our UKAS-accredited lab partner and get your results and bespoke doctor’s report in just days.

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Results and doctor's report in 2 days or less

Free, next-working day delivery

Measures faecal calprotectin levels in the gut

What you need to know about our Calprotectin Test

Bowel symptoms like bloating, stomach pain and diarrhoea are common and can really interfere with your life - our calprotectin test can help identify what's causing these symptoms.

It's often difficult to tell the difference between irritable bowel sundrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) based on symptoms alone, so guidelines recommend taking a calprotectin stool test to rule out inflammation.

Your calprotectin test result will come with your actual calprotectin level, recommendations on how to interpret your level from one of our doctors and a formal lab report you can download to share with your doctor if necessary.

What is faecal calprotectin?

Calprotectin is a protein released by white blood cells that has antimicrobial properties. Calprotectin therefore serves as a marker for white blood cell activity or inflammation.

Measuring calprotectin levels in faeces has been shown to be a sensitive marker of gut inflammation.

What are the symptoms of gut inflammation?

The symptoms of gut inflammation can include:

diarrhoea
bloating
blood in the stool
stomach pain
weight loss

What do the calprotectin test results mean?

We interpret faecal calprotectin levels as follows:

Calprotectin level (µg)	Meaning
<50	Normal - no gut inflammation
50-250	Borderline - possible mild gut inflammation. Recommend to repeat the calprotectin test in 2 weeks
>250	High - likely gut inflammation

What can cause a high calprotectin level?

Calprotectin is a biomarker of neutrophil activity in the gut and raised calprotectin levels can be caused by:

inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease
bowel infection
microscopic colitis
diverticulitis
H. pylori gastritis
drugs - proton pump inhibitors and non-steroidal inflammatory drugs
bowel cancer
age - average calprotectin levels increase with age and some older individuals can have a raised faecal calprotectin level without a clear cause

How the gut inflammation test works

Do your gut inflammation test

You'll get your kit next-working day.

Collect your stool sample at home using the simple calprotectin test kit and post it back to our UKAS-accredited lab for analysis.

Get results quickly

Once the lab have your sample, you'll get your calprotectin level back quickly.

You'll also get a doctor's report explaining what your calprotectin level means in clear, everyday language.

Get answers for your gut

Your report highlights whether gut inflammation is likely to be driving any gut symptoms and what the next steps are for your gut health.

Calprotectin Test FAQs

: Our diagnostic testing is carried out by The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), one of the largest laboratories in the UK. TDL test for both the NHS (e.g. University College Hospital London) and private providers such as ourselves and use the exact same testing platforms and procedures in either case.

But no test is perfect - there can always be "false positive" and "false negative" results. The calprotectin test is "quantitative" meaning that the result is a number. The number itself is accurate but a high calprotectin doesn't always mean there will be inflammation in the bowel. The value needs to be considered alongside other factors such as your medical history and any symptoms. Using a calprotectin cut-off value of 50µg/g, can exclude significant bowel inflammation with 99% certainty^ref.
: Only a very small amount of stool is needed for an accurate calprotectin result. We use an ultra-modern calprotectin assay which can accurately quantify calprotectin from a small amount of stool scraped onto collection stick. This is the same collection device as used for qFIT tests for blood in the stool and means easy collection with minimal fuss.
: Children under 18 years can use the test but will require supervision of an adult.
: It's best to avoid taking NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen) and proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole) for 4 weeks before taking the calprotectin test as these can raise calprotectin levels.

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If you have any questions, we're here to help. Our customer service team is hands-down the best you'll ever deal with. They're smart, friendly, knowledgeable and will get back to you in a flash.