title: Patient-performed extraction of faecal calprotectin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Faecal (f-) calprotectin is a widely used marker for intestinal inflammation. However, extraction procedure is time consuming and cumbersome. The main aim of this study was to evaluate patient-performed extraction of f-calprotectin compared to extraction performed in the laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 81 adult patients with an established diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease provided two samples from the same bowel movement, one conventional faeces sample and one sample with a patient administered extraction device. A laboratory technician extracted the conventional faeces sample with the same extraction device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  F-calprotectin results from the laboratory-performed extraction and the patient-performed extraction correlated significantly, with a Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.92. Method comparison showed a slope of 1.20 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.36) with intercept of -0.30 (95% confidence interval -9.00 to 4.62). This demonstrates a small proportional difference between the results from the home extracted samples and the results from the laboratory extracted samples, where the home extracted samples are slightly higher. However, six of the 81 patients had made obvious mistakes in the extraction process and their samples were excluded from the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient administered extraction of f-calprotectin can be a realistic alternative for selected patients. However, instructions must be very precise to avoid mistakes.
authors.forename: Vendel
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lauritzen
authors.forename: Lars-Petter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Jelsness-Jørgensen
authors.forename: Svein Oskar
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Frigstad
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corwin
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex