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HelpTest Code FCAL or LAB3277 Fecal Calprotectin, feces
Specimen Requirements
| Container Type: |
Optimal/Acceptable: Stool in sterile plastic cup with screw top. |
| Collection Instructions: |
Label container with patient's first and last name, date of birth, and date and time of collection. Fresh, unpreserved stool is required. |
| Minimum Volume: |
1 gram or 1 mL |
| Specimen Transport: |
Refrigerated is preferred but Ambient is acceptable. |
| Processing Instructions: |
1. Unpreserved stool sample should be submitted refrigerated to BMH Laboratory. 2. Stool samples are tested Monday/Wednesday/Friday and should go into appropriate bin for batched testing. |
Specimen Stability
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Unpreserved stool |
Refrigerated |
6 days |
| Unpreserved stool |
Ambient |
3 days |
| Unpreserved stool |
Frozen |
6 days |
Specimen Rejection Criteria
- Stool collected in a vial containing a preservative/fixative.
- Specimen stability exceeded.
- Leaky specimen.
Useful For
Calprotectin is an abundant heterodimeric calcium binding protein belonging to the S100 family. It is derived predominantly from the cytosolic fraction of neutrophils, and to some extent, from the monocytes and activated macrophages. Calprotectin is the most sensitive marker of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The fCal turbo is an in vitro diagnostic assay intended for the quantitative measurement of fecal calprotectin, a neutrohilic protein that is a marker of intestinal mucosal inflammation in human stool. This assay aids in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, specifically Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and aids in the differentiation of IBD from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Methodology
Particle-Enhanced Turbidimetric Immunoassay (PETIA)
Reference Ranges
| Test ID | Reference Range and Reporting Units |
|---|---|
|
fCal |
Normal: <80 ug/g Borderline: 80 – 160 ug/g Elevated: >160 ug/g |
“Fecal calprotectin concentrations <80 ug/g are not indicative of active inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract with a negative predictive value of approximately 93%.
Fecal Calprotectin concentrations between 80 and 160 ug/g are borderline and may not be directly indicative of an active inflammation. Re-evaluation of fecal calprotectin levels after 4 to 6 weeks is recommended.
Fecal calprotectin concentrations >160 ug/g are indicative of an active inflammatory process with a positive predictive value of approximately 87%. Further diagnostic testing to determine the etiology of the inflammation is suggested.”
Day(s) Performed
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Performing Laboratory
Bronson Laboratory, Chemistry - Kalamazoo
Sample Retention Time
7 Days
CPT Code
83993
LOINC Code
38445-3