IBD Profile Test
IBD Profile Test
The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Profile is a series of tests that help diagnose Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by checking the presence of antibodies and protein in the patient's blood and stool sample.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a lifelong inflammatory disorder of the gut that is said to develop due to an exaggerated immune response to a normal stimulus, such as food and intestinal flora. IBD has two subtypes: Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis. Since both conditions have similar symptoms, the antibodies present in the panel can help diagnose and differentiate them early for effective disease treatment and prognosis.
Our IBD profile test for the following serological markers:
· c-ANCA and p-ANCA (ANCA- antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies)
· ASCA IgA (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
· ASCA IgG (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
· Fecal Calprotectin
What is the IBD Profile Used For?
Your doctor may request an Influenza Panel PCR assay
To diagnose symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue in patient’s suspected of IBD
To differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in patients with ambiguous clinical, pathological and imaging results
For determining the severity of disease
Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease range from mild to severe depending upon the part of the intestinal tract involved and may include:
Cramps and pain in the upper belly
Urgency to have pass stool
High Fever
Diarrhea with blood
Dehydration and fatigue
Iron deficiency anemia
Weightloss
Which Tests are Included in the IBD profile?
The IBD profile includes four test parameters:
· Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA): This blood test looks for autoantibodies that attack white blood cells called neutrophils to diagnose and monitor treatment for diseases with inflammatory activity in small blood vessels such as IBD. There are two main kinds of ANCA: pANCA and cANCA, each targeting different proteins within WBCs. ANCAs are more commonly seen in ulcerative colitis.
· Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) IgA: This blood test measures the levels of IgA anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies to diagnose patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
· Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) IgG: This blood test measures the levels of IgG anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies in patients suspected of IBD. About 75% of patients with Crohn's disease are positive for ASCA IgG.
· Fecal Calprotectin Test: This test measures calprotectin protein in the stool sample to check for inflammation in the intestine. Calprotectin is a protein released from WBCs when gut inflammation occurs. The test is used to differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Preparation for Test
Generally, an IBD Profile requires no special preparation on your part. But, it is essential to tell your doctor about any medical conditions you may have and whether you are taking medication for them. Also, having abdominal or gastrointestinal surgery before may cause symptoms similar to those of IBD.
Interpretation of Test Results
The IBD profile results are analyzed along with clinical evaluation and other lab test results and are interpreted as below:
Positive result (Abnormal)
This report indicates elevated levels of antibodies in the sample, indicating that the patient might have one of the two types of IBD.
Presence of multiple antibodies usually indicates the likelihood of a more aggressive disease.
Negative result (Normal)
This report suggests normal to lower antibody levels, indicating that your gut symptoms are not due to IBD but because of other bowel diseases.
FAQs
What should I expect during the IBD Profile test?
This test requires a blood sample collected from a vein in your arm using a sterile needle and sent to the lab for further analysis. Along with blood, you may be instructed to collect the stool sample in a sterile container for a fecal calprotectin test.
Can this test be used to monitor treatment response?
No, this test is not intended to determine or monitor the response to therapy, including surgical resection of the diseased intestine. Instead, it is meant to diagnose and differentiate IBD in patients having suspected gut symptoms.
What does it mean if I have positive ASCA IgA and IgG test and negative ANCA?
Having a positive ASCA and a negative pANCA results indicate a likelihood of Crohn's disease. The opposite is true for ulcerative colitis.
What factors can affect my IBD profile results?
If you have certain medical conditions like autoimmune disorders or bacterial infection and are taking medications, it could influence the findings of the IBD profile.
Why do I need a fecal calprotectin test?
If you have been diagnosed with IBD, your doctor may use this test:
· To determine how severe the intestinal inflammation is
· To guide treatment option
· To check the prognosis of IBD
· To predict the recurrence of IBD symptoms post-surgery
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