What does a high faecal calprotectin result mean?
Faecal calprotectin is a marker of intestinal inflammation, not a stand-alone diagnosis of colitis or cancer. It can rise with inflammatory bowel disease, infections and other causes. Interpretation depends on symptoms, age, medicines and laboratory ranges.
Details
Why is the test used?
It can help distinguish functional symptoms such as IBS from inflammation requiring further investigation, or monitor established inflammatory bowel disease. It does not locate the disease or identify its cause by itself.
What about a borderline result?
A clinician may recommend repeating the test, other investigations or endoscopy. Some medicines, including NSAIDs, can affect results. Report what you take rather than stopping a prescribed medicine yourself.
Normal is not an absolute guarantee
A normal result does not exclude every condition when warning signs are present. Bleeding, weight loss, fever or severe pain needs assessment. Bring the units and laboratory reference range instead of comparing your number with an internet threshold.
Related reading: Can irritable bowel syndrome turn into bowel cancer?.