Calprotectin is a protein complex found in neutrophils and macrophages, two types of white blood cells that play a crucial role in the immune system. It is a highly stable protein that is resistant to degradation, making it a valuable biomarker for inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
The primary function of calprotectin is to protect against bacterial and fungal infections. It exhibits potent antibacterial and antifungal properties by chelating zinc, a metal essential for microbial growth and metabolism, additionally calprotectin can induce apoptosis in bacterial and fungal cells.
Calprotectin is released in the gut when neutrophils and macrophages are recruited to the site of inflammation. The amount of calprotectin in stool samples is directly proportional to the severity of intestinal inflammation.
Measuring calprotectin levels in stool is a non-invasive and highly sensitive method for detecting and monitoring inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Faecal calprotectin testing can thus be used to differentiate IBD from other non-inflammatory bowel conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS – consider Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, SIBO, testing). It is also used in predicting the severity of IBD flares and assessing the response to treatment.
Test ID: FCAL
Turnaround time: 5 days
Sample Collection Instructions: Stool sample collection – click here
Sample Requirements: Faecal blue capped tube
Sample Stability: Postal acceptable