Faecal calprotectin helps distinguish IBS from IBD
The test can be used to 'confidently diagnose' functional gastrointestinal disorders, say researchers
18th November 2019
A faecal calprotectin test is useful to rule out inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in general practice patients, Australian gastroenterologists say.
Their meta-analysis of 18 studies found that the stool test had a negative predictive value of 100% for organic gastrointestinal disorders, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as diagnosed with colonoscopy or imaging.
In a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the authors said the test was an effective way of diagnosing functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, by