Mayo Clinic Laboratories > Gastroenterology > Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease

Comprehensive testing to differentiate, diagnose, and monitor treatment

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is typically classified as either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis based on clinical features, colonoscopy findings, histologic changes, and the anatomical distribution of disease. In some cases, overlapping features are noted. Laboratory testing can assist in pinpointing diagnosis and guide therapy selection for the specific disorder.

Because the goal of IBD treatment is reducing the inflammation triggering signs and symptoms, accurate diagnosis and treatment is essential. Biologic therapies, especially anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents, have significantly changed the management of IBD. Therapeutic targets now include both symptom control and sustained control of intestinal inflammation.

6-8 million

6–8 million individuals globally have IBD1

$31 billion

$31 billion annual financial burden of IBD in the U.S.2

Biologics management Biologics management
Biologics management

Our reflexive testing approach first measures the concentration of the biologic treatment within a patient’s specimen. Then, if necessary, an additional test is performed to assess the presence of antibodies to a specific drug that the patient has been receiving.

Diagnosis and monitoring Diagnosis and monitoring
Diagnosis and monitoring

Including calprotectin testing and serologic evaluation for IBD, our clinically supported testing can differentiate between IBD and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as assist in diagnosing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Thiopurine management Thiopurine management
Thiopurine management

A multidisciplinary team of clinicians thoughtfully developed our end-to-end thiopurine testing to consider genetic variations, both in individuals and certain ethnic groups, that impact metabolic response.

Monogenic IBD Monogenic IBD
Monogenic IBD

We offer a 51-gene panel that detects variants in genes with established associations to monogenic IBD and primary immunodeficiencies that present with IBD-like features but do not respond to standard IBD treatments.

Striving for testing diversity and equity

At Mayo Clinic Laboratories we understand that genetic variations, both in individuals and certain ethnic groups, present the potential for testing discrepancies. Our focus on testing diversity and equity in healthcare translates into thoughtful test development that minimizes testing disparities based on genetic makeup. This decreases the overall risk of adverse events related to medical mismanagement.

News and updates

The latest

Panel Boosts Therapeutic Monitoring of IBD Drug: Maria Alice Willrich, Ph.D., and Melissa Snyder, Ph.D.

Maria Alice Willrich, Ph.D., and Melissa Snyder, Ph.D., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique risankizumab panel measures levels of both that drug and its antibodies in patients' blood. The results can better guide the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Learn more
Assay monitors response to monoclonal antibody therapy: Maria Alice Willrich, Ph.D.

Maria Alice Willrich, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new assay provides therapeutic drug monitoring of risankizumab, or RISA. Test results help guide care for patients with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease.

Advanced Crohn’s monitoring test launched by Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic Laboratories introduces an advancement in the management of Crohn's disease with the release of a new laboratory test that measures Risankizumab levels in patients. This test will advance the therapeutic monitoring of Crohn's disease, enabling personalized treatment approaches.

Test panel guides diagnosis of early onset IBD: Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D.

Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' test panel provides comprehensive evaluation of patients with suspected monogenic early onset inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Accurate diagnosis is key to guiding therapy for patients, who might be as young as 2 years of age.

Panel offers proactive drug monitoring for IBD: Maria Willrich, Ph.D., and Melissa Snyder, Ph.D.

Maria Willrich, Ph.D., and Melissa Snyder, Ph.D., describe Mayo Clinic Laboratories' panel for proactive therapeutic drug monitoring of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The panel expands options for clinicians assessing patients' response to infliximab and adalimumab.

Early-Onset IBD: Genetic Testing and Clinical Applications

Identification of early-onset IBD patients may enable tailored treatment and surveillance plans. With over 50 genes implicated in early-onset IBD, genetic testing should be included in the workup of children under the age of six with IBD. Join Mayo Clinic, in this “Specialty Testing” webinar, for a discussion of this testing and its clinical application.

Novel malabsorption panel speeds diagnosis

Puanani Hopson, D.O., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ malabsorption panel can provide timelier diagnosis for children with chronic diarrhea or unexplained weight loss. The novel panel, which bundles four existing tests, requires just one stool sample.

Biologic Therapies: Reflexive Approaches to Optimizing Treatment for IBD

Many patients may have flare-ups of their disease, or they may stop responding to treatment. In these situations, the clinician may choose to increase the dose administered or recommend more frequent injections. One cause of decreased response to treatment is the appearance of anti-drug antibodies or “immunogenicity.”

NUDT15: An Additional Gene Important in Prediction of Thiopurine-Related Toxicity [Test in Focus]

Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., discusses an additional gene, NUDT15, which is important in the prediction of thiopurine-related toxicity This gene has been added to our TPMT genotyping assay available through Mayo Medical Laboratories.

TPMT Testing in Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease [Test in Focus]

Detection of individuals with low thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity who are at risk for excessive myelosuppression or severe hematopoietic toxicity when taking thiopurine drugs.

Calprotectin and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The differential diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While the clinical presentation is similar, IBD is an inflammatory disease, while IBS is a noninflammatory disease. View this "Hot Topic" to learn about testing for IBD and IBS.

Resources
Download Inflammatory bowel disease algorithm
References
  1. Dahlhamer JM, et al. Prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease among adults aged ≥18 years — United States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65:1166–1169.  
  2. Sudabeh A, et al. The global, regional, and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;5(1):17-30.
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