Gastrointestinal Health

Celiac
Laboratory tests are ordered for many different reasons; because of a problem you've reported to your doctor, to check on a condition that has already been diagnosed, or maybe to see how you're responding to prescribed medication.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by eating grains that contain gluten such as wheat, rye and barley. It occurs in about 1% of Canadians and symptoms can vary dramatically and easily be mistaken for food allergies or intolerance. Undiagnosed celiac disease can:

• cause irreversible damage to the small intestine
• prevent your body from absorbing nutrients critical for good health
• lead to long-term complications

If you have been exhibiting the symptoms of celiac disease, or have a family history of celiac disease, this blood test can help you find the answers you are looking for.

Fecal Calprotectin
When you have symptoms such as chronic diarrhea or abdominal pain, it could be due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Canada has one of the highest rates of IBS and IBD in the world. The Fecal Calprotectin testis a simple non-invasive stool laboratory test, that helps your doctor determine if you have IBD or IBS and thus plan your treatment accordingly.

IBS is a functional disorder that doesn’t affect your bowel tissue, but requires long term management and lifestyle changes. However, IBD causes chronic inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract, and can be even life-threatening if not treated properly.

Calprotectin is a protein normally found in the body in certain amounts. If the test finds a large amount of calprotectin present in the stool, it is more likely that you have IBD, while if the test comes back with low or normal levels, it points towards IBS. The Calprotectin test is hence very useful to differentiate between IBS and IBD.