Fecal calprotectin

What this test is

This stool test measures calprotectin. It is a marker of inflammation in your bowel. It helps tell apart two things that can look similar. One is inflammatory bowel disease, a real, structural condition. The other is irritable bowel syndrome, which does not cause this kind of inflammation. It is a reasonable, non-invasive test when there is real doubt about which one you have. A normal result is very reassuring. It is not perfect, though. If your overall risk of IBD is low, a positive result is still more likely a false alarm than true disease. A positive result needs to be read together with your symptoms and history, not acted on alone.