Faecal calprotectin helps distinguish IBS from IBD

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 excluding IBD.
“Symptomatic patients with a faecal calprotectin level below 50mcg/g can be confidently diagnosed with a functional gastrointestinal disorder and do not require further testing or evaluation by a specialist,” they wrote.