Calprotectin levels

If I remember correctly, calprotectin is a molecule that contains (binds) calcium, and it is released by white blood cells in certain inflammatory conditions. So if calprotectin is found in elevated levels in the stool, it indirectly indicates the presence and activity of increased numbers of white blood cells in the lower GI tract (mainly the colon).

So really it's a marker for measuring inflammation in the lower GI tract. It tends to increase as inflammation increases. But it's not perfect, and it's most useful for inflammation in the colon. It can be normal and sometimes miss inflammation higher upstream (small bowel).

Thanks for your responses. I found a few reputable web sites that said anything below 50 was considered normal , 50-100 was considered borderline but indicative of some inflammation and/or inflammation that was on the increase and anything over 100 was positive for inflammation. I had just come off 6 weeks of prednisone 10 days before I did the test so I am wondering if it might have been much higher had I not been on the pred. My new GI is looking at a large number of things because my symptoms have changed so dramatically with this current flare from those I have had over the past 17 years. Scopes in 4 days.....