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Faecal Calprotectin – a guide for patients and carers This information brochure is intended to provide you with information about the faecal calprotectin test. It is not expected to cover every possible detail, if you have any questions, please contact us at the telephone numbers provided at the end of the brochure. Important information: You will be given a test request form by your GP and a container for your sample. Please complete the request form and fill the container with a sample of your stool (poo). Make sure you seal the container tightly. At your earliest convenience you may either return the completed form and the container with the sample to your GP. Alternatively, you can return the completed form and the container with the sample directly to the laboratory at St George’s Hospital. The laboratory is located in the Pathology Department, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0QT. The test results will be sent directly to your GP within five days. Your GP will then contact you with the results. it is preferable to stop taking any medicines belonging to a class of medicines called proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) i.e. lansoprazole, omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole and rebeprazole two weeks before the test. What is a Faecal Calprotectin? Calprotectin is a protein which is secreted by the gut which suffers from an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Such diseases include infectious colitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The presence of calprotectin in faeces is a sign that the patient has an increased risk of having one or other of these diseases. Why do I need a Faecal Calprotectin Test? You have discussed with your GP symptoms commonly known as Vague Abdominal Symptoms (VAS). There are many causes of these symptoms and it is important to identify what is the cause in your case. Testing for calprotectin will help identify if your symptoms are caused by IBD or something else, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This will help provide appropriate treatment. What Happens if I Test Positive for Calprotectin? If you test positive for the presence of calprotectin, it may indicate the presence of bowel inflammation that may not be Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Your GP will arrange for you to have further tests at the hospital to identify the exact nature of your problem and work with the consultant gastroenterologist at the hospital and yourself to manage your condition effectively. 1 What Happens if I Test Negative for Calprotectin? If there is no calprotectin detected in your faeces it is likely you will suffer from IBS or some other condition such as gluten allergy (coeliac disease). Your GP will discuss with you how best to manage your condition. Further tests or hospital visits will be unlikely. Is the Test Accurate? No diagnostic test is 100% accurate. The test may occasionally produce false positive results, that is the test indicates IBD where none is present. This is particularly the case if you have been taking omeprazole which increases the chances of a false positive. What are the risks of having the Test? The test is non-invasive and so there are no risks associated with the test. Are there any alternatives? A colonoscopy is an alternative test. This involves the insertion of a small tube with a camera into the patient’s back passage. It is an invasive test which requires sedation of the patient. After the test, the patient must be escorted home and cannot drive or operate any machinery (even boiling water in a kettle or boiling an egg can be dangerous) for 24 hours afterwards. For this reason, the faecal calprotectin test is preferred as a first line diagnosis of VAS. Is there anything I need to do before the test? (Other than stay off omeprazole, is there anything?) How long will the test take? The laboratory will return the results of your test to your GP within 5 days of the sample being delivered. When will I know the results? Your GP will contact you with the results. Your questions and comments: If you have any further questions, please ask your GP. 2