title: Rapid fecal calprotectin (FC) analysis: point of care testing for diagnosing early necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to compare fecal calprotectin (FC) levels as measured by a rapid FC assay with those measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from concurrent stool samples. We also attempted to demonstrate a correlation between elevated rapid assay FC levels and the presence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and to define a cutoff FC value which could serve as a basis for diagnosing NEC in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stool samples were collected for FC analysis at 1 and 3 weeks postnatally and whenever there was clinical suspicion of NEC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rapid assay FC levels were elevated with NEC (3,000 µg/g stool [2075,7875] vs. without (195 µg/g stool [110,440] p < 0.001); and were well correlated with ELISA FC levels (r(2) = 0.89).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present the first data showing that rapid assay FC levels are potentially useful in the bedside diagnosis of NEC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Alona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bin-Nun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Booms
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Laboratory, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Naama
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sabag
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Laboratory, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Refael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mevorach
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Laboratory, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Algur
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hammerman
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000737:chemistry*; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex