IBS and IBD often cause similar symptoms of abdominal pain, cramping, and chronic diarrhea, making an accurate diagnosis difficult. Calprotectin reliably differentiates IBS from IBD using a patient-friendly, non-invasive, stool test.
Why use the Calprotectin test?
An invasive endoscopic/biopsy procedure is the gold-standard test used for patients presenting with symptoms that could indicate IBD. However, many patients undergoing invasive procedures are ultimately diagnosed with IBS, a non-inflammatory, functional disorder. Calprotectin offers several advantages:
- Fecal Calprotectin is an FDA-cleared stool test for differentiating IBS from IBD
- Calprotectin is an indicator of inflammation, which is commonly associated with IBD and other inflammatory conditions
- Fecal Calprotectin is described in the scientific literature to be a useful screening tool for identifying which patients may need endoscopy
- It is also described to be useful for quantifying the degree of inflammation, monitoring treatment, and assessing for relapse in IBD
You will receive an activation card with the test kit. To activate your test kit scan the barcode or go to gdx.net and follow the prompts.
Preparation:
No fasting is required. Ship to lab Monday-Thursday only. Please read all of the directions and the collection procedures prior to starting test. Two days prior to testing it is recommended that you discontinue use of over-the-counter suppressants of inflammation like aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®). Check with physician before stopping medications.
Test Results:
7-10 days once the lab receives the specimen. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
