Calprotectin

Calprotectin is an indirect marker of intestinal inflammation and a first-line testing option that can help differentiate between IBD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Key testing

• CALPR | Calprotectin, Feces

Advantages

• Can help prevent invasive procedures or imaging studies.
• When used for initial diagnosis, fecal calprotectin has a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 85%.
• Treatment algorithms based on fecal and C-reactive protein concentrations to monitor inflammatory activity and clinical symptoms lead to superior outcomes compared to treatment algorithms based on clinical management alone in patients with early Crohn’s disease.¹
• Can be used as a surveillance tool to maximize therapeutic success with patients on biologic therapy.¹

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Confirmatory testing

When diagnosis made using flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy with mucosal biopsy doesn’t clearly differentiate between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, serologic testing can be used to confirm diagnosis.

Key testing

• IBDP2 | Inflammatory Bowel Disease Serology Panel, Serum

Advantages

• Based on significant peer-reviewed literature.
• Examines only characteristic patterns of antibodies with demonstrated clinical utility, including saccharomyces (IgA and IgG) and neutrophil-specific antibodies (perinuclear anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody [pANCA]).
• Excludes results that lack clinical relevance, minimizing unnecessary costs and leaving room for physician interpretation based on individual patients and medical assessments.
• Particularly useful for differentiating between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in pediatric populations.¹

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References

1. Colombel JF, et al. Effect of thigh control management on Crohn’s disease (CALM): A multicenter, randomized, controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2017 Dec 23;390(10114):2779-2789.