Applications

1353 – Measurement of Calprotectin as a marker of bowel inflammation

Find out about the service or technology in this application and the medical condition it addresses. You can also view the application documents, the deadlines for providing consultation input and the outcome of the application when the MSAC process is complete.

  • Status Complete
  • Type New application
  • Pre-PASC consultation -
  • Pre-MSAC consultation -
  • Outcome Not supported

Application details

Reason for application

New MBS item.

Service or technology in this application

Faecal calprotectin is a marker for intestinal inflammation. Calprotectin concentration in faeces correlates with the severity of inflammation and is significantly increased in patients with bowel inflammation (IBD), but not elevated in patients with functional disorders like functional bowel disease (IBS). As a screening tool, faecal calprotectin tests reduce the need for invasive diagnostic procedures (such as colonoscopy), potentially leading to earlier diagnosis of IBD and IBS and subsequently improving patient management.

Type: Investigative

Medical condition this application addresses

Patients present to a doctor with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of either organic (IBD) or functional (IBS) bowel disease, namely: chronic abdominal pain and discomfort; urgency and bloating; diarrhea; constipation; alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation; and changes in bowel habits in the absence of alarm symptoms such as rectal bleeding or abnormal blood tests.

Application documents

Meetings to consider this application

  • PASC meeting: 14 - 15 August 2014
  • ESC meeting: 8 - 9 February 2018
  • MSAC meeting: 28 - 29 March 2018