Information for IBD Patients | Your Calprotectin Test Guidance

Calprotectin Self Testing

The IBDoc® is a reliable and easy to use home calprotectin test, used under direction of your clinician. This smartphone based remote monitoring solution is the next step to improving the quality of care and convenience for IBD patients.

Calprotectin Self Testing
for Patients

Learn about IBDoc®

CALEX® Patient Pack
Guidance for Patients

If your Doctor has given you a CALEX patient pack, you should use this instead of a pot to collect your sample. It is easy, convenient and stabilises the sample ready for testing. Here you'll find instructions to ensure correct use of the kit.

CALEX® Patient Pack
Guidance for Patients

Learn about CALEX® Patient Packs

Collecting a Faecal Sample

Taking a stool sample can be a daunting task for some. Our tips can help to make the process easier for you, and ensure the sample is collected correctly ready for laboratory testing.

Collecting a Faecal Sample

Take a Look at our Tips for Sample Collection

Welcome to the NEW section especially for IBD Patients

If you have recently been told by your doctor that you require a calprotectin test to help investigate any gastric symptoms you are having, then you may be curious about what this test is. Or, if you have already been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis, then you may already be familar with the use of calprotectin for the diagnosis and continued monitoring of your condition. In either case you can find out more about calprotectin testing by exploring this website and also discover useful information to help you, such as how to collect a quality sample.

Your calprotectin test will most likely be performed in a clinic or hospital laboratory from a poo sample that you supply. You may be asked to provide this in a small container or you may be given a kit with instructions on how to collect your sample directly into the convenient CALEX^® device, that prepares it for immediate testing in the laboratory.

Increasingly more IBD patients are being offered calprotectin home testing for regular monitoring, using the IBDoc^® self testing system. IBDoc users will find lots of help and support on this website.

calprotectin.co.uk is supported by Alpha Laboratories Ltd. a diagnostics specialist, who has been the pioneer of calprotectin testing in the UK for over 15 years. We work closely with healthcare professionals and our products are not available for direct sale to patients. Your calprotectin testing will be managed directly by your medical team so please contact them with any questions you may have.

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About Calprotectin

Calprotectin is a protein biomarker that is present in the faeces when intestinal inflammation occurs. Faecal calprotectin testing is helping to improve patient care and save money for the NHS. It prevents the need for unnecessary endoscopy procedures on many patients by screening out those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The symptoms of functional disorders such as IBS and organic Inflammatory Intestinal Disease (IBD) can be very similar in presentation but are two very different medical conditions.

Historically, clinical gastroenterologists have had to use invasive endoscopy to differentially diagnose between these conditions. NICE [DG11] now recommends the use of faecal calprotectin analysis, as a first-line test, in patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms indicative of IBS or IBD. The test can rule out IBD and avoid the need for IBS patients to undergo endoscopy. This prevents patient stress, shortens waiting lists and cuts costs.

Calprotectin is also shown to be of value in the ongoing assessment of known IBD patients, with the biomarker concentration reflecting mucosal healing or potential relapse.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine. The major types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Learn About IBD

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition of the digestive system. It can often cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.

Learn About IBS

Recent Calprotectin News

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