Role of Faecal Calprotectin in Diagnosing Acute Diarrhoeal Illness

Diagnostic Considerations

• The British Society of Gastroenterology recommends using the first stool passed in the morning for sampling, and samples should be stored for no more than 3 days at room temperature before analysis to maintain stability 1
• NSAID use in the past 6 weeks can affect calprotectin levels and should be considered when interpreting results 2

Clinical Applications and Limitations

• The Infectious Diseases Society of America notes there are insufficient data available to make a recommendation on the value of fecal calprotectin measurement in people with acute infectious diarrhea 5
• The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends faecal calprotectin primarily for diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory bowel disease rather than acute infectious diarrhoea 3