Calprotectin, Faecal Test – At-Home Gut Inflammation Screening
Check for Signs of Intestinal Inflammation from Home
The Calprotectin, Faecal Test lets you check for gut inflammation easily and without any invasive procedures. It measures calprotectin, a protein that white blood cells release when your digestive tract is inflamed.
Higher levels of faecal calprotectin can be linked to conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, infections, or other causes of gut inflammation. Testing can help you and your doctor understand your symptoms and decide if more checks are needed.
You collect your sample at home and send it to a lab for analysis. This saves you a trip to the clinic for your first test.
What Is Calprotectin?
Calprotectin is a protein in white blood cells. When your gut is inflamed, these cells release calprotectin, which shows up in your stool and can be measured.
Doctors use faecal calprotectin as a sign of gut inflammation. High levels can happen with conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, but a high result alone does not show the exact cause.
Conditions and factors that may be associated with raised calprotectin include:
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Coeliac disease
- Certain medications, including some NSAIDs
- Other causes of intestinal inflammation
Why Test Faecal Calprotectin?
If you have ongoing digestive problems, checking faecal calprotectin can help show if there is inflammation in your gut.
The test may be useful for:
- Investigating persistent or recurring gastrointestinal symptoms
- Providing additional information when inflammatory bowel disease is suspected
- Supporting the assessment of symptoms that may have different possible causes
- Monitoring intestinal inflammation in people already diagnosed with IBD, where advised by a healthcare professional
- Providing results that can be discussed with your GP or gastroenterologist
Doctors sometimes use faecal calprotectin tests with other checks to tell IBD apart from IBS. But this test alone cannot diagnose either condition.
Key Benefits of At-Home Calprotectin Testing
- Convenient: Collect your stool sample in the privacy of your own home.
- Non-invasive: No blood draw or invasive procedure is required.
- Laboratory analysis: Your sample is analysed using an established laboratory testing method.
- Discreet: Your testing kit can be delivered discreetly.
- Easy to understand: Your results are clear and ready to discuss with your doctor.
- Useful information: The test helps show if you might have gut inflammation.
Who May Consider a Faecal Calprotectin Test?
You may wish to consider testing if you are experiencing persistent or recurring symptoms such as:
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Changes in bowel habits
- Bloating or digestive discomfort
- Mucus in the stool
- Other ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms
This test can also help people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who need to keep track of their calprotectin levels as part of their care.
If you notice blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, ongoing severe stomach pain, big changes in your bowel habits, or other worrying symptoms, talk to a doctor instead of using only an at-home test.
How the At-Home Test Works
1. Order your test
Your testing kit is delivered discreetly to your chosen address.
2. Collect your stool sample
Use the instructions in your kit to collect your sample safely and cleanly.
3. Return your sample
Pack your sample as shown in the instructions and send it back to the lab using the return method provided.
4. Receive your results
After the lab checks your sample, you can see your results securely online.
UnderstandinYour report will show your faecal calprotectin level and explain what it means based on the lab’s reference ranges.eference ranges.
Lower Calprotectin Level
A low result usually means you are less likely to have major gut inflammation right now. But it does not rule out all gut problems or explain your symptoms.
Borderline or Intermediate Result
If your result is in the middle range, your doctor will look at it along with your symptoms, medical history, and other tests. They might suggest testing again or doing more checks.
Raised Calprotectin Level
A high result means you might have gut inflammation. It does not diagnose Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or any specific condition. Your doctor may suggest more tests to find the cause.
What Can Cause Raised Calprotectin?
An elevated faecal calprotectin result can occur for a number of reasons, including:
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Coeliac disease
- Use of certain medicines, including NSAIDs
- Other inflammatory conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract
That’s why it’s important to look at a high result together with your symptoms and medical history.
Why Choose Repose Healthcare?
- Convenient at-home sample collection
- Discreet delivery and testing
- Laboratory-based analysis
- Secure online results
- Easy-to-understand information to help you make sense of your result
- Results that can be shared with your GP or healthcare professional
Important Medical Disclaimer
The Calprotectin, Faecal Test is a screening and assessment test that measures faecal calprotectin as a marker of intestinal inflammation. It does not diagnose Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, coeliac disease, cancer or any other medical condition.
A normal result does not rule out all gastrointestinal conditions, and a raised result does not necessarily mean that you have inflammatory bowel disease. Results should be interpreted alongside your symptoms, medical history and, where appropriate, other clinical investigations.
If you have persistent or worsening symptoms, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, severe abdominal pain, fever, significant changes in bowel habits or other concerns, seek medical advice promptly. If you are experiencing severe or acute symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.
This test should not be used as a substitute for assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Order Your Faecal Calprotectin Test Today
Find out if you have gut inflammation easily and privately, right from home.
Order your Calprotectin, Faecal Test today and get your results securely online, ready to discuss with your doctor.