Faecal (stool) testing

This test identifies proteins (calprotectins) in your gut. These are produced by white blood cells, part of your body’s defence system.

Their presence is an indicator of inflammation, often within your bowel. A positive finding can indicate inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and can also point to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

A faecal elastase test measures the presence of digestive enzymes, primarily those produced by the pancreas, which do not degrade by passing through your digestive tract.

Levels of concentration of the enzyme within faeces can help us to assess pancreatic function. Abnormal functionality can be the result of pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, a tumour or other conditions such as diabetes.

The stools we produce give us an incredibly valuable insight into the processes going on within our digestive system, and new approaches to testing are being developed all the time. We keep a close eye on these developments and, once they are proven to be effective, we will adopt them, giving you access to the most cutting-edge diagnostic procedures possible.

One example is diagnosis through the tracing of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. It can cause stomach ulcers and, in rare cases, stomach cancer and can be tracked and identified through breath testing. Once faecal testing was found to provide more definitive results, we adopted the procedure at our practice. For an effective approach to diagnostic care based on efficacy and rigorous scientific testing, please get in touch with us at any time.