Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) / Calprotectin & Lactoferrin Test (Crohns’s/Ulcerative colitis)
What will I Receive?
You will receive everything you need to carry out the tests.
What is Calprotectin and what does it test for?
Faecal calprotectin is a substance that is released into the intestines in excess when there is any inflammation there. Its presence can mean a person has an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Inflammatory bowel diseases are considered autoimmune diseases, in which the body’s own immune system attacks elements of the digestive system.
Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic (long-term) diseases that involve inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (gut). However, there are important differences between the two.
Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon (large intestine), while Crohn’s disease can affect the entire digestive system, from the mouth to the anus.
These conditions can cause very similar symptoms to irritable bowel syndrome. But, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can also cause symptoms serious enough for major surgery to be needed, so it’s important to distinguish between them and irritable bowel syndrome.
Many people with irritable bowel syndrome have unnecessary invasive hospital investigations before their condition is diagnosed. Using faecal calprotectin testing will mean most people with irritable bowel syndrome will be diagnosed without the need for these investigations.
What is Lactferrin?
Lactoferrin is one of the components of the immune system of the body; it has antimicrobial activity (bacteriocide, fungicide) and is part of the innate defense, mainly at mucoses. In particular, lactoferrin provides antibacterialactivity to human infants. Human lactoferrin, a neutrophil derived glycoprotein, can be measured in feces and whole gut lavage as an indicator of intestinal inflammation in both IBD and infectious gastroenteritis. Recent studies have shown fecal lactoferrin (FL) as a sensitive biomarker for pediatric IBD. In addition, this biomarker can serve as an aid for guiding the diagnostic and therapeutic process for both pediatric and adult IBD.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are similar. They include:
- abdominal (tummy) pain – this is more common in Crohn’s disease than in ulcerative colitis
- a change in bowel habits: urgent and/or bloody diarrhoea or (rarely) constipation
- weight loss
- extreme tiredness
Not everyone has all of these symptoms, and two individuals with the same condition can have very different symptoms. Some people may experience additional symptoms, including nausea and fever.
The symptoms of IBD can come and go over long periods. People may experience periods of severe symptoms (flare-ups), and go through periods when they have few or no symptoms at all (remission).
Pack contents include all items required to obtain and effect a result from which further medical diagnosis/treatment can be determined. This test is fully CE approved for medical/professional use. If any positive result is obtained it is important the patient seek immediate medical advice.
GP Diagnostics is a trading name of Home Health UK Ltd
