Q&A: Fecal Lactoferrin Testing ADVERTORIAL
Q: What is Lactoferrin? A: Lactoferrin is a protein found in activated neutrophils (fecal leukocytes). When there is inflammation in the intestines, activated neutrophils will be shed into the stool. Thus, an elevated level of fecal lactoferrin indicates intestinal inflammation.
Q: What causes intestinal inflammation? A: Intestinal inflammation is caused by many different conditions. Two diseases are especially associated with inflammation. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is the primary cause of noninfectious intestinal inflammation and can be difficult to distinguish from other intestinal disorders, especially Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Clostridium difficilee disease, also referred to as C. difficilee infection (CDI), is the primary cause of infectious intestinal inflammation. Q: What is the role of fecal lactoferrin in diagnosing and managing intestinal inflammation? A: A positive test result for elevated fecal lactoferrin in persons who have tested negative for infectious etiologies should alert the physician to possible IBD. A negative result may signal a functional disorder like IBS, which is non-inflammatory. Levels of fecal lactoferrin correlate with disease activity and may be used as an indicator of mucosal healing. C. difficilee disease is complicated to diagnose because the presence of the organism does not always correlate with disease. In many instances, persons who are infected with C. difficilee are simply carriers of the organism and do not need to be treated for CDI. Elevated fecal lactoferrin in persons who are positive for C. difficilee and its toxins help identify the disease, and can indicate if the intestines have become inflamed. In both diseases, whether found separately or together (as is often the case), lactoferrin testing aids in determining disease severity and appropriate therapy.
Q: How does lactoferrin testing compare with other technologies? A: Lactoferrin is more stable in feces, exceeding all other FDAcleared fecal biomarker assays.
Fecal lactoferrin can be accurately measured in specimens with levels remaining unchanged for up to 2 weeks when samples are stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. This translates into
more reliable testing for intestinal inflammation.
Q: Are these tests reimbursable? A: Yes, lactoferrin testing is covered by most health insurance plans.
A simple stool sample can speak volumes on intestinal inflammation
Get a reliable first read on intestinal inflammation with
LACTOFERRIN TESTING NON-INVASIVE ∙ SENSITIVE ∙ SPECIFIC ∙ COST-EFFECTIVE
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