The comparison of the three assays for determination of fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Introduction Fecal calprotectin is a biomarker for monitoring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity. Our aim, therefore, was to evaluate two new assays, the point of care test Quantum Blue and the Liaison Calprotectin with respect to the Calprest, commonly used assay, and to determine their performance for IBD diagnosis. Materials and methods We included 73 prospective patients with IBD. Fecal calprotectin was measured and analysed with the routine Calprest assay and two recently introduced assays, the Quantum Blue and the Liaison Calprotectin. Furthermore, we compared the results by Bland and Altman analysis, and Passing-Bablok regression. Results We observed no difference in median calprotectin values obtained by the Calprest (94.6 µg/g, 95%CI 66.5 to 166.1) and Liaison assay (101.0 µg/g, 95%CI 48.1 to 180.1) whereas significantly higher concentrations were obtained with the Quantum Blue assay (240.0 µg/g, 95%CI 119.9 to 353.2). The mean absolute and relative difference between the Calprest and Quantum Blue methods was statistically significant (- 162.3 µg/g and - 143.1%). Mean absolute difference between the Calprest and Liaison calprotectin methods was positive (2.2 µg/g). The agreement between assays revealed that Quantum Blue and Calprest have fair agreement with Kappa coefficient of 0.38 (95%CI 0.26 to 0.51). Liaison Calprotectin and Calprest revealed moderate agreement with a weak Kappa coefficient of 0.47 (95%CI 0.32 to 0.62). Conclusion Clinicians should be aware of these differences between the assays and avoid comparison of their respective results.

Programming Factors of Neonatal Intestinal Dysbiosis as a Cause of Disease

“…This study also showed that the combination of serum calprotectin with CRP or albumin may be helpful in predicting treatment escalation, especially in patients with CD. In patients with IBD who are in clinical remission, the measurement of the FC concentration can be used as a biological marker for the presence of inflammation of the mucous membrane [ 64 , 65 ]. The fecal calprotectin concentration reflects the degree of the pathological neutrophilic infiltration of the intestinal wall.…”