Calprotectin has been found in several human biological materials: in serum, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid and urine. Although the dosage of calprotectin in feces is most advantageous in the evaluation of the degree of inflammation of the intestinbe. In fact, it is extremely stable in the stool, which remains unchanged for more than 7 days.

The increase of the concentration of calprotectin in the feces is a direct consequence of the granulation of neutrophils as a result of a damage of the intestinal mucosa. The dosage of calprotectin in stool offers significant advantages in inflammatory bowel evaluation. In patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), internationally indicated by the initials IBD, the level of calprotectin is generally very high. Among the diseases that fall under the IBD we find ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and so-called “indeterminate colitis.” In IBS (Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome the level of calprotectin is decidedly lower than that in patients with active disease, but still higher than that in healthy subjects.