Also known as: Fecal Calprotectin, Fecal Calprotectin Test, Calprotectin Test, Stool Calprotectin, Calprotectin Labcorp
The short answer
Fecal calprotectin — the gold-standard stool marker for distinguishing IBD (Crohn's, colitis) from IBS by measuring intestinal inflammation, measured from a stool sample. At TestWell it costs $189.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 3–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
TestWell Price
$189.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
Fecal calprotectin is a protein released by neutrophils (white blood cells) in the intestinal lining when inflammation is present. It is the most accurate non-invasive marker for distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis — from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Elevated calprotectin strongly suggests organic intestinal inflammation and can help avoid unnecessary colonoscopies in low-risk patients. It is also used to monitor disease activity in known IBD patients, predict relapse, and assess response to treatment. Normal levels effectively rule out significant intestinal inflammation.
Fecal calprotectin is a neutrophil-derived protein released into the stool when the intestinal lining is inflamed. It is the most accurate non-invasive marker for distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis) from non-inflammatory IBS.
Anyone with chronic diarrhea, persistent abdominal pain, or blood/mucus in the stool — especially when trying to tell IBD apart from IBS, or monitoring disease activity and relapse in known Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.
Sample Type
Stool sample
Fasting
Not required
Results In
3–5 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
1 biomarker tested
Your Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 3–5 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you.
Collect a stool sample using the kit provided at the lab. No dietary restrictions required.
The short answer
Worth it when the real question is 'is this inflammatory bowel disease or just IBS?'. Fecal calprotectin is the most accurate non-invasive marker of intestinal inflammation, and a normal result can spare you an unnecessary colonoscopy - which is exactly why it is ordered before scoping in low-risk cases.
We would rather you order the right test than the most expensive one.
Calprotectin is a stool test, not a blood draw, so a mobile phlebotomist does not apply. You collect a small stool sample with the kit and return it to a Labcorp or Quest location - the analysis is the same reference-standard immunoassay whichever lab runs it. The 'labcorp fecal calprotectin' you may have been quoted is the identical test; on TestWell it is $189.99 self-pay versus the $249+ Quest Direct and $600 hospital-billed prices, with no doctor visit needed.
An at-home draw is not recommended for this test — it needs a lab-based collection to be accurate.
The markers that matter most and what an out-of-range value can mean. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex.
| Marker | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Fecal calprotectin | Under ~50 mcg/g = normal | Under 50 makes significant intestinal inflammation (IBD) unlikely and points toward IBS; 50-120 is borderline and often repeated; over ~120-150 suggests active inflammation and usually warrants a colonoscopy or GI referral. |
This section medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD — updated July 2026. General health information, not medical advice; interpret results with a qualified clinician.
A Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) test costs $189.99 at TestWell — $195.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $139.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $600.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible. Full cost breakdown →
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $189.99 | $195.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $139.00 | $139.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $600.00 | $600.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Lab test codes: Quest test code 16796 · Labcorp test no. 123255. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
TestWell Price
$189.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
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Fecal Calprotectin (Stool)
$189.99