Calprotectin Stool Test
Reviewed
A calprotectin stool test measures a protein called calprotectin in your stool to check for inflammation in your intestines. It is often used to help tell the difference between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This test can detect inflammation but cannot diagnose the specific cause.
Preparation and collection
Ask your provider if you need to stop taking any medicines before the test. Never stop taking medicine without talking to your provider first. Medicines that may affect results include NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) and proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole).
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Cannot diagnose the specific cause of inflammation; only indicates presence or absence of intestinal inflammation.
- False negatives can occur, especially in children.
- Certain medications (NSAIDs, proton pump inhibitors) can affect results.
What to do next
If your results are high, your provider may retest in a few weeks or recommend a colonoscopy to find the cause of inflammation. If your results are normal, other tests may be done to find the cause of your symptoms.