Faecal calprotectin test

A stool (poo) test that measures a protein released when the bowel is inflamed, used mainly to help tell inflammatory bowel disease apart from irritable bowel syndrome.

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

It is a simple stool test that measures inflammation in the bowel, used mainly to help tell inflammatory bowel disease apart from irritable bowel syndrome.
A low result makes inflammation unlikely and can avoid an unnecessary colonoscopy; a raised result usually leads to further tests rather than a diagnosis on its own.
It is not a cancer test, and some painkillers (NSAIDs) and gut infections can raise the level, so the result is read alongside your symptoms.
If you have red-flag symptoms such as bleeding, weight loss or anaemia, you may need referral regardless of the calprotectin result.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeStool (poo) test

AnaestheticNot needed

How long it takesA few minutes to collect the sample at home

Hospital stayOutpatient — done at home

Time off workUsually none

When you'll see resultsUsually within 1–2 weeks

On the NHS?Widely used on the NHS, often by GPs, to decide who needs referral or colonoscopy; also offered privately

A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Simple, usually not painful and done at home with no needles or scan.

Pause if

As a cancer test — it does not detect or rule out bowel cancer.

Main recovery point

A few minutes at home using the pot and instructions provided. No discomfort, just the mild unpleasantness of handling a stool sample.

Good aftercare

A clinician interprets the number against a clear cut-off and your symptoms.

Collecting the sample

A few minutes at home using the pot and instructions provided. No discomfort, just the mild unpleasantness of...

Returning it

Drop the labelled sample at the lab or surgery within the time you are told, so the result is accurate.

Within 1–2 weeks

The lab measures the level and your clinician interprets the number against a cut-off, alongside your symptoms and...

After the result

A low result may mean reassurance and a focus on managing irritable bowel syndrome; a raised result usually leads...

Medical line illustration of the large bowel and rectum for Faecal calprotectin test. — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is a faecal calprotectin test?

Faecal calprotectin is a test on a small sample of your stool (poo). Calprotectin is a protein released by a type of white blood cell. When the lining of the bowel is inflamed, more of these cells move into the gut, so more calprotectin appears in the stool.

The test is used mainly to help tell apart two groups of conditions that cause similar symptoms: inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), where the bowel is inflamed, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), where it is not. A low result makes inflammation unlikely and can spare someone an unnecessary camera test (colonoscopy); a raised result points towards inflammation and usually leads to further investigation.

The result is a number compared against a cut-off value. It is a guide, not a diagnosis: it tells you how likely inflammation is, not exactly what is causing it. Some everyday things, such as certain painkillers and stomach infections, can raise the level even without inflammatory bowel disease.

It is most useful in adults under about 40–50 with bowel symptoms and no red-flag features. It is not a cancer test, and a normal result does not rule out bowel cancer.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

GP-requested test

Often the first use: a GP uses the result to decide whether bowel symptoms are more likely inflammatory bowel disease (needing referral) or irritable bowel syndrome.

Specialist diagnostic test

Used by gastroenterologists alongside blood tests and symptoms when deciding whether to arrange a colonoscopy or other investigations.

Monitoring test in known IBD

In people already diagnosed with Crohn's or colitis, repeat tests help track whether inflammation is active or settling, and whether treatment is working.

Home stool sample

You collect a small stool sample at home in a provided pot, following simple instructions, and return it to the lab.

Repeat or paired testing

A borderline result is often repeated, sometimes a few weeks apart, because levels can fluctuate.

Calprotectin vs other ways to assess bowel symptoms

Approach	What it tells you	Trade-off
Faecal calprotectin	How likely bowel inflammation is	Simple and non-invasive, but not specific to one cause
Blood tests	Anaemia, inflammation markers, coeliac screen	Useful but indirect; can be normal in mild disease
FIT stool test	Hidden blood, used in bowel cancer pathways	Different purpose; calprotectin is not a cancer test
Colonoscopy	Direct look and biopsies of the bowel lining	Most definitive but invasive, with preparation and small risks

These are often combined; calprotectin helps decide who most needs a colonoscopy.

Preparing for your test

Collect the sample at home using the pot and instructions provided, and label it with the date.
Tell your clinician if you take anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen), as these can raise the level.
Mention any recent stomach bug or diarrhoea illness, which can also raise the result.
Avoid contaminating the sample with urine or toilet water.
Return the sample to the lab promptly, following the timing advice you are given.
Have details of your symptoms ready — when they started, bleeding, weight change, family history.
Ask whether to continue or pause any medicines before testing.

What happens

There is no appointment or procedure for the test itself. You are given a small pot and instructions, and you collect a sample of your stool at home, usually catching it on clean paper or a container rather than from the toilet bowl.

You label the pot and return it to the lab or surgery within the time you are told. In the laboratory, the sample is processed and the amount of calprotectin is measured, giving a number in micrograms per gram of stool.

Your clinician then compares the number with a cut-off value and interprets it alongside your symptoms, examination and any blood tests. They will explain whether the result makes inflammation likely or unlikely and what should happen next.

Is this test right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

As a cancer test — it does not detect or rule out bowel cancer.
On its own to diagnose Crohn's disease or colitis, which need direct investigation.
In place of urgent referral when red-flag symptoms (bleeding, weight loss, anaemia) are present.
Where the result would not change management.

Delay or rearrange if…

You are taking anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), which can raise the level — discuss timing.
You have a current stomach bug or diarrhoea illness, which can also raise it.
The sample cannot be collected cleanly or returned within the required time.
You have recently had bowel surgery or another gut condition that could affect the result.

Alternatives to discuss

Blood tests for anaemia, inflammation and coeliac disease.
A FIT stool test where hidden blood and cancer risk are the main concern.
Direct investigation with colonoscopy when inflammatory bowel disease is strongly suspected.
Symptom-based management of irritable bowel syndrome where inflammation is unlikely.
Specialist referral when the picture is unclear.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Benefits

Simple, usually not painful and done at home with no needles or scan.
A low result can reassure and avoid an unnecessary colonoscopy.
A raised result helps identify people who do need urgent investigation for inflammatory bowel disease.
Helps separate inflammatory bowel disease from irritable bowel syndrome when symptoms overlap.
Can be repeated to monitor known Crohn's disease or colitis.
Speeds up the right referral and reduces waiting for the wrong test.

Risks & complications

More common

The mild inconvenience and unpleasantness of collecting a stool sample
A borderline result that needs repeating
A raised result from a harmless cause, such as recent painkillers or a stomach bug, prompting more tests
A result that does not, by itself, give a diagnosis

Less common

A false reassurance if a normal result is taken to rule out all bowel disease, including cancer
A genuinely inflamed bowel that gives a lower-than-expected result and is missed
Delay if a sample is contaminated or not returned in time and must be repeated

Rare but serious

Over-reliance on the number instead of acting on clear red-flag symptoms
Anxiety from a raised result before further tests clarify the cause

The test does not harm you — the risk is in how the result is used. Because painkillers, infections and even age can raise calprotectin, and because some inflamed bowels give borderline numbers, the result must be read with your symptoms. Importantly, it is not a cancer test: if you have bleeding, weight loss, anaemia or a change in bowel habit, ask your clinician whether you need referral regardless of the calprotectin level.

Published figures to discuss

Faecal calprotectin is good at separating inflammatory bowel disease from irritable bowel syndrome, but its accuracy depends on the cut-off chosen and the group tested. A lower cut-off catches more inflammation but produces more false positives; a higher cut-off reduces false positives but can miss mild disease. Reported figures come mainly from studies in selected patients, so real-world performance may differ and the test should always be read with the clinical picture.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Sensitivity for inflammatory bowel disease (adults, 50 micrograms/g cut-off)	Pooled around 93% in a systematic review	Sensitive but not perfect; a small number of inflamed bowels are still missed.	Faecal calprotectin systematic review (NIHR HTA) — NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure
Specificity for inflammatory bowel disease (adults, 50 micrograms/g cut-off)	Pooled around 94% in a systematic review	False positives occur, for example with NSAIDs or infection; performance is generally lower in children.	Faecal calprotectin systematic review (NIHR HTA) — NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure
Borderline result	Common practical scenario	Borderline or mildly raised values often need repeat testing, medication review and clinical context rather than immediate colonoscopy for everyone.	Guide sourcesClinical context
False reassurance	Recognised	A normal result should not override red flags such as rectal bleeding, weight loss, iron-deficiency anaemia or nocturnal symptoms.	Faecal calprotectin systematic review (NIHR HTA) — NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

There is nothing to recover from. Once you have returned the sample, you simply wait for the result, which is then interpreted alongside your symptoms and other tests.

Collecting the sample

A few minutes at home using the pot and instructions provided. No discomfort, just the mild unpleasantness of handling a stool sample.

Returning it

Drop the labelled sample at the lab or surgery within the time you are told, so the result is accurate.

Within 1–2 weeks

The lab measures the level and your clinician interprets the number against a cut-off, alongside your symptoms and any blood tests.

After the result

A low result may mean reassurance and a focus on managing irritable bowel syndrome; a raised result usually leads to referral and a colonoscopy or further tests.

What's normal — and not a worry

No physical effects whatsoever
A short wait for the laboratory result
Sometimes a request to repeat the sample if the result is borderline or the sample was unsuitable
A plan that depends on the number and your symptoms together

Aftercare

Return the labelled sample within the time advised so the result is reliable.
Tell your clinician about painkillers or a recent stomach bug that could have affected the level.
Ask what your number means against the cut-off and what should happen next.
If a colonoscopy is advised, ask why and what it will look for.
Do not treat a normal result as ruling out bowel cancer if you have red-flag symptoms.
Keep any follow-up appointment so the result is explained in context.

Before your test

Sample pot and instructions to hand
Note of any NSAID painkillers being taken
Note of any recent diarrhoea illness
Plan to return the sample promptly
List of symptoms, including any bleeding or weight loss
Follow-up appointment or contact to discuss the result

⚠ Get urgent help if…

Blood in your stool or bleeding from the bottom
Unintentional weight loss
A persistent change in bowel habit, especially if you are over 50
Tiredness or pallor suggesting anaemia
Severe or worsening tummy pain, fever or night sweats
These need medical assessment regardless of the calprotectin result

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A useful result is one that, read with your symptoms, helps decide the next step: a low level makes bowel inflammation unlikely and can avoid a colonoscopy, while a raised level points towards inflammation and usually leads to further investigation. Results sit against a cut-off value, and borderline numbers are common and often repeated.

The test cannot tell you exactly what is causing any inflammation, and it is not a cancer test — a normal result does not rule out bowel cancer. Some people with irritable bowel syndrome have a slightly raised level, and a few people with inflammatory bowel disease have a lower-than-expected level, so the number is always one part of the picture.

How long it lasts

A calprotectin level reflects how things are around the time the sample is taken, and it can change as inflammation flares or settles. In known inflammatory bowel disease it is often repeated to track activity. A single normal result does not guarantee the bowel will stay healthy if symptoms change later.

Related tests, treatments or support

Calprotectin is usually combined with blood tests (such as full blood count, inflammation markers and a coeliac screen) and a careful symptom history. In bowel cancer pathways a different stool test (FIT, for hidden blood) is used, and the two answer different questions. A colonoscopy is the test that looks directly at the bowel lining.

Follow-up & long-term care

Your clinician should explain the number, what it means against the cut-off, and the plan — whether that is managing irritable bowel syndrome, repeating the test, or referral for a colonoscopy. In known Crohn's or colitis, repeat testing is part of ongoing monitoring.

Repeat testing to monitor known Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis as advised
Reviewing the result if symptoms change or new red flags appear
Continuing other agreed monitoring, such as blood tests, in known IBD

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

Borderline results are common and often repeated, sometimes weeks apart.
A raised result usually leads to further tests rather than a diagnosis on its own.
Levels change as inflammation flares or settles, so repeat testing is normal in known IBD.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

A clinician interprets the number against a clear cut-off and your symptoms.
A plan that does not ignore red-flag symptoms whatever the result.
Repeat testing or referral arranged where appropriate.
In known IBD, the result used to guide treatment and monitoring, not in isolation.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

The laboratory fee for processing the stool sample
Whether a consultation to interpret the result is included
Whether blood tests are done at the same time
Whether repeat testing is needed for a borderline result
Any onward tests, such as colonoscopy, prompted by the result
Whether the test is part of a wider monitoring package in known IBD

Make sure your written quote includes

The fee for the test and sample processing
Whether a clinician will interpret and explain the result
Whether a follow-up appointment or letter is included
What happens, and what it costs, if the result is borderline and needs repeating
Whether blood tests are included or charged separately
The plan and cost for a colonoscopy or referral if the result is raised

On the NHS? Faecal calprotectin is widely used on the NHS, often by GPs, to help decide who needs specialist referral or a colonoscopy; private testing is also available, sometimes for speed.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Choosing a specialist safely

Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

What does my number mean against the cut-off you are using?
Could anything I take or a recent illness have affected the result?
If it is normal, what is the plan, and could anything still be missed?
If it is raised, will I need a colonoscopy, and what will it look for?
Do my symptoms need referral regardless of the calprotectin result?
Should the test be repeated, and if so when?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the specialist who carries out my test, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this test not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

What does the test actually measure?

It measures calprotectin, a protein that increases in the stool when the lining of the bowel is inflamed. A higher level suggests more inflammation.

Does a normal result mean nothing is wrong?

A low result makes inflammatory bowel disease unlikely and can avoid a colonoscopy, but it does not rule out every problem. It is not a cancer test, so red-flag symptoms still need assessment.

Why is my result raised if I don't have Crohn's or colitis?

Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), recent stomach infections and some other conditions can raise calprotectin. That is why a raised result is interpreted with your symptoms and often repeated or followed by more tests.

Is collecting the sample difficult?

No, just a little unpleasant. You collect a small stool sample at home in a provided pot, label it, and return it to the lab within the time you are told.

Can I get this test on the NHS?

Yes. GPs and specialists use it widely on the NHS to decide who needs referral or a colonoscopy. It is also offered privately, sometimes for quicker access.

Will a raised result definitely mean I need a colonoscopy?

Not always, but a clearly raised result usually leads to a colonoscopy or other tests to look for the cause. Your clinician will weigh the number with your symptoms and other results.

Find a verified specialist for faecal calprotectin test

Every consultant is GMC-checked and independently reviewed. Search by postcode and distance, or switch to a map. Ordered by rating, relevance and recency — never by who pays.

No verified consultants list this procedure yet — browse the full directory.

See all specialists for faecal calprotectin test →

How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NICE DG11 / HTG320 — Faecal calprotectin diagnostic tests NHS — Inflammatory bowel disease Faecal calprotectin systematic review (NIHR HTA) — NCBI Faecal calprotectin systematic review and economic evaluation — PMC Guts UK — Irritable bowel syndrome

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.