Testing for IBD

CALPROTECTIN: TURBIDIMETRIC TEST

Turbidimetric assays are sensitive tests used to determine the concentration of a specific protein (antigen) in a sample using antibodies.

Alpha Laboratories supplies the BÜHLMANN fCAL ® turbo faecal calprotectin immuno turbidimetric assay kits. These contain all the reagents required to carry out a turbidimetric test for Calprotectin using a faecal sample.

It also provides a machine to measure the results, a BA200 Analyser. However, clinical

laboratories can also run the assays on a number of different instruments that they may already have in their laboratory – it is known as an ‘open source’ assay.

This kit uses antibodies on microscopic beads which will join together and form a complex with any calprotectin protein in the sample. The more calprotectin there is, the more complexes form and the sample becomes more ‘turbid’. The machine passes a beam of light through the sample. It measures the exact amount of light that has come through the sample. The more turbid the sample, the less light is measured. From this measurement, the concentration of calprotectin in the sample can be quantified.