Novel Turbidimetric Immunoassay Evaluated for Fecal Calprotectin
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 28 Sep 2016 |

Image: The BS-380 automatic biochemistry analyzer (Photo courtesy of Mindray).
Calprotectin is a multifunctional protein that plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of inflammatory bowel disease and high levels of calprotectin in stool samples are associated with inflammation of the intestinal tract.
Fecal calprotectin assays are widely used to exclude inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with suspected IBD, but the problem with most of the fecal calprotectin assays is the rather long test-turnaround times, before the results are available to the physician.
Scientists at Uppsala University (Sweden) optimized a particle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) for fecal calprotectin and validated the assay for two clinical autoanalyzers using routine fecal samples. They compared the PETIA with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), known as the Bühlmann fCAL ELISA (Bühlmann Laboratories, Schönenbuch, Switzerland). This new latex based turbidimetric calprotectin assay applies particles coated with anti-human calprotectin (MRP8/14) antibodies: the agglutination is proportional to the calprotectin concentration.
The fecal calprotectin PETIA was validated on two chemistry analyzers, the Mindray BS-380 (Mindray, Shenzhen, China) and the Cobas 501 (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). The assay is linear in the range 11 μg/g to 2,000 μg/g, with a limit of quantitation of approximately 10 μg/g. No antigen excess hook effect was observed up to 10,000 μg/g to 15,000 μg/g depending on the instrument used. The turbidimetric method showed a good agreement with the Bühlmann ELISA. The total coefficient of variation was 3% to 8% in the 50 μg/g to100 μg/g range.
The authors concluded that the fecal calprotectin PETIA, fCal Turbo, is well suited for rapid analysis of fecal calprotectin on Mindray BS-380 or Cobas 501 clinical chemistry analyzers. The test results are concordant with the Bühlmann fecal MRP8/14 ELISA. The study was published in the September 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis.
Related Links:
Uppsala University
Bühlmann Laboratories
Mindray
Roche Diagnostics
Fecal calprotectin assays are widely used to exclude inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with suspected IBD, but the problem with most of the fecal calprotectin assays is the rather long test-turnaround times, before the results are available to the physician.
Scientists at Uppsala University (Sweden) optimized a particle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) for fecal calprotectin and validated the assay for two clinical autoanalyzers using routine fecal samples. They compared the PETIA with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), known as the Bühlmann fCAL ELISA (Bühlmann Laboratories, Schönenbuch, Switzerland). This new latex based turbidimetric calprotectin assay applies particles coated with anti-human calprotectin (MRP8/14) antibodies: the agglutination is proportional to the calprotectin concentration.
The fecal calprotectin PETIA was validated on two chemistry analyzers, the Mindray BS-380 (Mindray, Shenzhen, China) and the Cobas 501 (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). The assay is linear in the range 11 μg/g to 2,000 μg/g, with a limit of quantitation of approximately 10 μg/g. No antigen excess hook effect was observed up to 10,000 μg/g to 15,000 μg/g depending on the instrument used. The turbidimetric method showed a good agreement with the Bühlmann ELISA. The total coefficient of variation was 3% to 8% in the 50 μg/g to100 μg/g range.
The authors concluded that the fecal calprotectin PETIA, fCal Turbo, is well suited for rapid analysis of fecal calprotectin on Mindray BS-380 or Cobas 501 clinical chemistry analyzers. The test results are concordant with the Bühlmann fecal MRP8/14 ELISA. The study was published in the September 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis.
Related Links:
Uppsala University
Bühlmann Laboratories
Mindray
Roche Diagnostics
Latest Clinical Chem. News
- Siemens Adds CE-Marked Capillary Claims for 24 Assays on Atellica Analyzers
- Preoperative Blood Test Predicts Colorectal Cancer Recurrence and Metastasis
- New Machine-Learning Equation Improves LDL Cholesterol Assessment
- Ultrasensitive Biosensor Detects Early Liver Fibrosis from Blood
- Blood Biomarker May Signal Cognitive Decline Risk a Decade Before Symptoms
- Blood Test Improves Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Across Care Settings
- New Immunoassay Enables Ultrasensitive Blood-Based Tau Tangle Measurement
- Blood Hormone Pattern Distinguishes Endometriosis with High Accuracy
- Blood Test Brings Alzheimer’s Biomarker Assessment to Routine Labs
- Alzheimer’s Biomarkers Identify Faster Cognitive Decline in Adults Over 80
- ADLM Issues Laboratory Guidance for Gender-Diverse Patient Care
- FDA-Approved Test Identifies Low Risk of Large Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis
- Blood Protein Signature Diagnoses Pediatric IBD and Distinguishes Subtypes
- Blood Test Detects More High-Risk Prostate Cancers Than PSA
- Rapid Blood Test Aids Diagnosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke
- Blood-Based Alzheimer’s Testing Platform Offers Rapid Results
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Siemens Adds CE-Marked Capillary Claims for 24 Assays on Atellica Analyzers
Venous blood draws can be challenging in patients with difficult veins, needle phobia, or limited blood volume, and they can slow collection in busy services. Core laboratories also face pressure to expand... Read more
Preoperative Blood Test Predicts Colorectal Cancer Recurrence and Metastasis
Cancer cells require large amounts of nutrients to grow and proliferate, and amino acids support key processes including protein formation, energy production, and DNA synthesis. Colorectal cancer is marked... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Blood Gene Expression Fluctuates More Than Expected Over Time
Blood-based gene expression is widely used to explore disease biology, but temporal variability can complicate interpretation of single time-point measurements. Seasonal shifts, time of day, and subclinical... Read more
Genomic Test Helps Early Breast Cancer Patients Avoid Chemotherapy
Adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in early breast cancer can expose many patients to toxicities without clear benefit when clinical factors alone do not precisely predict recurrence risk. Clinicians therefore... Read more
Residual Disease Test Predicts Merkel Cell Carcinoma Recurrence Earlier Than Antibody Assay
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin cancer with a substantial risk of relapse, occurring in about 40% of patients. Surveillance remains challenging because widely used serologic monitoring... Read moreHematology
view channel
Spectral Flow Cytometry Assay Enhances MRD Detection in Multiple Myeloma
imal residual disease (MRD) monitoring is pivotal in multiple myeloma, where persistent malignant plasma cells drive relapse risk and help guide therapy decisions. In the United States, approximately 202,000... Read more
New Marker Helps Detect Aggressive Multiple Myeloma Earlier
Multiple myeloma is an incurable malignancy of plasma cells and the second most common blood cancer worldwide, with more than 188,000 new cases each year. Although therapies have advanced, most patients... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Expanded Diagnostics and Therapies Target Rising Gonorrhea Resistance
Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae is straining current treatment protocols and elevating the risk of complications across sexual health services. More than 500,000 cases are reported each year in the... Read more
New Rapid Ebola Antigen Test Detects Infection at Point of Care
A serious Ebola epidemic centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has caused hundreds of deaths and triggered a global public health emergency, with cases also reported in Uganda.... Read more
Syndromic GI Panel Detects Cyclospora for Rapid Case Confirmation
U.S. health authorities have reported a rapid increase in cyclosporiasis since May 2026, with more than 1,600 confirmed infections and thousands of additional suspected cases under investigation.... Read more
Rapid Panel Identifies Gram-Negative Pathogens and Resistance Markers in Bloodstream Infections
Bloodstream infections require rapid identification of causative pathogens and resistance mechanisms to guide effective therapy. Delays in profiling gram-negative organisms, which are frequently associated... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Digital Pathology Platform Standardizes IHC Scoring in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer diagnostic workflows increasingly depend on accurate quantification of immunohistochemical biomarkers to guide therapy selection, yet manual scoring can be variable and time-consuming.... Read more
Digital Pathology Tool Predicts Breast Cancer Outcomes and Therapy Response
Breast cancer prognosis often depends on microscopic assessment of tumor architecture, a process that can be subjective and lead to variable predictions across patient groups. Quantitative measures that... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Training Device Improves Accuracy of Pooled Molecular Diagnostics
High-throughput molecular diagnostics have transformed infectious disease detection, but many workflows remain difficult to execute accurately without extensive training. Sample pooling can cut per‑test... Read more
New CE-Certified Software Advances Whole-Genome Cancer Testing
European hospitals are increasingly using comprehensive tumor genomics to guide therapy, but routine whole genome sequencing (WGS) requires validated, regulation-compliant workflows. A newly CE-certified... Read more
National Rare Disease Registry Standardizes Genetic and Clinical Data for Coordinated Care
Rare diseases collectively impose a significant clinical burden despite their individual rarity, often involving multisystem presentations and prolonged diagnostic journeys. Limited specialist expertise... Read moreIndustry
view channel
Collaboration Advances Sputum-Based Diagnostics for Asthma and COPD
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are highly prevalent inflammatory airway conditions, affecting more than 40 million Americans and more than 650 million people worldwide.... Read more








