Faecal calprotectin is a stool test used to look for evidence of inflammation in the bowel. A raised result is not a diagnosis. It can help investigate or monitor inflammatory bowel disease, but other conditions can also raise it.
What can this test help decide?
Your clinician considers the result alongside diarrhoea, pain, bleeding and the duration of symptoms. It may help decide whether further bowel investigation is appropriate. It does not replace an examination or every other type of stool test.
Keep the reporting laboratory’s units and interpretation with your result. A number from a different laboratory or an online home test may not have the same meaning. A low result does not automatically explain ongoing symptoms.
Leave with a clear follow-up plan
| Situation | Question |
|---|---|
| Borderline or uncertain result | Should it be repeated, and under what conditions? |
| Clearly raised result | What further assessment is being arranged? |
| Low result but continuing symptoms | What other explanations should be considered? |
Follow the instructions supplied with your kit
Collect stool without mixing it with toilet water. Follow your laboratory’s instructions for quantity, storage and delivery. Containers and transport routines differ; advice about another kit’s storage time may not apply to yours.
- Check the name, personal identity details and test order.
- Record the collection date as instructed.
- Tell the clinic about a current infection and your medicines.
- Ask when to contact the clinic if no result arrives.
Do not wait for a result if you become unwell
Tell your vårdcentral, a Swedish primary care centre, about blood in stool, unintended weight loss or recurrent diarrhoea at night. Severe abdominal pain, substantial bleeding or dehydration needs prompt assessment. Call 1177 for advice about urgency.
Does a raised result mean I need a colonoscopy?
The whole clinical picture determines the next step. Ask what happens next, who is responsible and which changes should prompt earlier contact. A repeat sample is most useful when it belongs to a clear care plan rather than becoming a test you keep ordering without an explanation.
Sources and further reading
- Västra Götalandsregionen: Calprotectin i faeces (in Swedish)
- Karolinska: Patientanvisning för Kalprotektin / Elastas i feces (in Swedish)
- Region Skåne: IBS, irritabel tarm (in Swedish)
Sources and links checked on 22 October 2026. Editorial team: Hagakliniken. General information; individual assessment may differ.