Faecal Calprotectin has been used in secondary care for several years as a diagnostic tool for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We have now made it available to primary care in line with NICE guidance.
Please see below for the pathway for diagnosing IBD and when to use Calprotectin.
This is not intended to be a first line test for abdominal symptoms.
Faecal Calprotectin is to be used when the diagnosis of IBD or IBS is uncertain and the GP is considering a referral to gastroenterology.
The aim is that Faecal Calprotectin will help exclude IBD in many of the patients with equivocal symptoms, thereby preventing the need for onward referral and colonoscopy.
When Calprotectin is ordered with the ICE pathology ordering system there are filters put in as a reminder of the guidance so that tests are not ordered inappropriately.
Requests from primary care which are not made using the ICE ordering system will be rejected by the laboratory.