Fecal calprotectin is a stool marker for intestinal inflammation, used to help distinguish inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), monitor disease activity, and guide further testing.
Fecal calprotectin is a protein released from neutrophils—a type of white blood cell—when the lining of the intestine is inflamed. Because it remains stable in stool and rises specifically with mucosal inflammation, it is widely used to differentiate inflammatory conditions (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) from non-inflammatory conditions like IBS, monitor treatment response in known IBD, and help guide the need for endoscopy or further testing.
| Calprotectin (µg/g) | Interpretation | Recommended Follow-Up |
|---|---|---|
| <5–50 | Normal | None |
| >50–120 | Borderline | Repeat test in 4–6 weeks |
| >120 | Abnormal | Further evaluation as advised |
Note: Your lab’s exact cutoffs may vary slightly; always interpret results in clinical context.
Normal (<5–50 µg/g): Suggests no active intestinal inflammation. More consistent with functional disorders like IBS, food triggers, or motility issues than with IBD. If symptoms such as pain, bloating, or diarrhea persist, clinicians may explore dietary factors, microbiome causes, bile acid diarrhea, or pancreatic insufficiency.
Borderline (>50–120 µg/g): May indicate mild or transient inflammation due to recent infection, medication effects, strenuous exercise, or timing during a flare. A repeat test in 4–6 weeks is recommended. If symptoms persist or worsen, additional labs like CRP, stool pathogen tests, or celiac serology may be ordered.
Abnormal (>120 µg/g): Strongly suggests active intestinal inflammation. Common causes include IBD (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis), infections, ischemic colitis, NSAID-induced injury, and less commonly colorectal neoplasia. Next steps usually include repeating calprotectin to confirm trends, blood inflammation markers, stool studies, and possibly referral for endoscopic evaluation.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (often correlates with disease activity)
Infectious colitis (e.g., bacterial like Campylobacter, Salmonella, C. difficile)
Medications like NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) and sometimes PPIs
Colorectal neoplasia or polyps (especially if inflamed or bleeding)
Diverticulitis, microscopic colitis, and celiac disease with active inflammation
Recent gastrointestinal bleeding or significant mucosal injury
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), lactose or FODMAP intolerance, and most functional GI symptoms without mucosal inflammation typically show normal levels.
Stool consistency matters: watery stools can dilute calprotectin; try to provide a typical sample.
Medication management: discuss with your clinician before pausing NSAIDs for testing.
Timing: repeat borderline or fluctuating results as advised to monitor trends.
Trends over single values guide clinical decisions in known IBD.
Seek prompt care if you have elevated calprotectin with symptoms such as:
Fever, unintentional weight loss, night symptoms, or persistent rectal bleeding
Severe abdominal pain, dehydration, or bowel obstruction signs
Recent travel, antibiotics, or immunosuppression combined with significant diarrhea
Is fecal calprotectin diagnostic for IBD?
No, it is a screening and monitoring tool. Diagnosis requires endoscopy with biopsy.
Can it track treatment?
Yes, falling levels often parallel healing, and rising levels may indicate relapse.
Are children's results different?
Pediatric cutoffs vary by age. Use age-specific reference ranges and consult pediatric specialists.
What value counts as “high”?
Labs flag >120 µg/g as abnormal. Higher values indicate higher inflammation risk, but clinical context directs care.
Your calprotectin result and test date
Symptom log (onset, triggers, night symptoms, bleeding)
List of medications, especially NSAIDs, PPIs, recent antibiotics, or biologics
Any recent infections, travel, or dietary changes
Previous GI test results (endoscopy, imaging, blood tests)
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I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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Astrovirus, Beneficial SCFAs, Bilfidobacterium, Calprotectin, Fecal, Chymotrypsin, Deoxycholic acid (DCA), Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) It/st, Escherichia coli, Fluoroquinolones, Histamine in Stool, Lactobacillus species, LCA / DCA Ratio, Lithocholic acid (LCA), M2 Pyruvate Kinase, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (avium), Occult Blood, Immunochem, Ova + Parasite Status, Pancreatic Elastase-1, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Prevotella copri, Putrefactive SCFAs, Rotavirus, Stool pH, Vibrio (parahaemolyticus, vulnificus and cholerae), Zonulin
