1761 – Faecal calprotectin for the monitoring of disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

New MBS item.

Faecal calprotectin (FC) is a stool protein biomarker that may correlate with clinical or endoscopic disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) providing a non-invasive method to assess for intestinal inflammation. High FC levels indicate active inflammation, and may allow for timely adjustments in treatment leading to improved disease management and better outcomes in IBD care including avoidance of irreversible bowel damage, surgery, hospitalisations and morbidity. A low FC suggests no disease activity in IBD, allowing clinicians to avoid unnecessary invasive and expensive investigations such as colonoscopy in many patients.

Type: Investigative technology

IBD is a group of conditions characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, including both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is a chronic relapsing condition and symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bleeding, weight loss and fatigue. However, symptoms can be a poor marker of gut inflammation (active disease). Uncontrolled disease leads to significant morbidity including hospital admissions, perforation, anaemia, resectional surgery as well as profound effects on the individual’s emotional and social wellbeing. Australian and international management guidelines recommend regular assessment of disease activity and tight control of inflammation in an attempt to prevent these avoidable outcomes.

• PASC consultation: Closed 3 November 2023
• MSAC consultation: Closed Friday 11 October 2024

• PASC meeting: 7–8 December 2023
• ESC meeting: 10–11 October 2024
• MSAC meeting: 28–29 November 2024