Calprotectin / Inflammation Marker (home stool sample test kit)
Fecal calprotectin has proven to be an extremely useful marker to help differentiate between IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). The calprotectin result helps determine the next course of action in diagnosis and treatment of bowel conditions. It has no doubt saved many patients from unnecessary colonoscopies and helped in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of those with some form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) e.g. Crohn’s Disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC).
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In the blood, red cells perform the vital role of delivering oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from around the body by virtue of the hemoglobin they contain. The role of white cells is to help defend the body against infection and foreign substances. Calprotectin is a protein that is found in white blood cells and it has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. There is as much calprotectin in the white cells that carry it, as there is hemoglobin in red cells.
Calprotectin is activated when inflammation occurs (whatever the cause of that may be) and thus can be used as a diagnostic indicator. The concentration of calprotectin relates directly to the severity of the inflammation.
When lower abdominal symptoms exist, a fecal calprotectin test is used to identify whether an inflammatory bowel condition that requires further investigation, is the possible cause.
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IBD, particularly ulcerative colitis, also increases the risk of colon cancer. IBD can also affect other organs; for example, someone with IBD may have arthritis, skin conditions, inflammation of the eye, liver and kidney disorders, or bone loss. Of all the complications outside the intestines, arthritis is the most common.
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Why take this test?
• Abdominal cramps and pain
• Diarrhea that may be bloody
• Severe urgency to have a bowel movement
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Iron deficiency anemia due to blood loss
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What is included?
° Your stool sample collection test kit will be sent to you by post
° Follow the instructions provided, fill out the form where necessary and post your sample to the lab - prepaid envelope provided
° Your test result will be emailed to you within 7 working days