--- title: Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) Test type: test id: calprotectin url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/calprotectin-stool" price_usd: 189.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 195.99 cpt: 83993 category: Digestive Health sample: Stool sample fasting_required: false results_in: "3–5 business days" labs: - Quest - Labcorp orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=calprotectin-stool&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) Test > 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. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $189.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($195.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 83993 | | Sample | Stool sample | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 3–5 business days | | Labs | Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp | | Biomarkers measured | 1 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) test tell you? Fecal calprotectin — the gold-standard stool marker for distinguishing IBD (Crohn's, colitis) from IBS by measuring intestinal inflammation. 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. **Clinical use:** 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. ## Who should order it? 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. ## Biomarkers measured - Fecal Calprotectin ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $189.99 | $195.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | Labcorp | $189.99 | $195.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) test cost? 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. | 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 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/fecal-calprotectin-test) | | 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. ## How do you prepare? Collect a stool sample using the kit provided at the lab. No dietary restrictions required. ## Related conditions - Crohn's disease (K50.90) - Ulcerative colitis (K51.90) - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (K58.9) - Inflammatory bowel disease, unspecified (K52.9) ## Is the Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) worth it? > 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. ### Worth it if you… - Ongoing diarrhea, abdominal pain, or cramping where IBD (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis) needs to be ruled in or out vs IBS - Blood in the stool or unexplained weight loss alongside gut symptoms - People with known IBD tracking a flare or checking response to treatment - Anyone hoping to avoid a colonoscopy if a normal result makes significant inflammation unlikely ### You can probably wait if you… - Your symptoms are classic IBS with no alarm features (no bleeding, weight loss, or nighttime symptoms) and your provider is already confident - You are taking NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) - they raise calprotectin and can cause a falsely high result; pause them first if your provider agrees ### At home or in the lab? At-home collection is not recommended for this test. 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. ### How do you read the results? | Result | Typical adult range | What an out-of-range value can mean | | --- | --- | --- | | 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; last reviewed 2026-07-17._ ## Common questions about the Fecal Calprotectin (Stool) test ### What does a fecal calprotectin test measure? It measures calprotectin, a protein released by neutrophils (white blood cells) into the gut when the intestinal lining is inflamed. Because it stays stable in stool for days, the level closely tracks how much active inflammation is present in the intestines. ### What is a normal calprotectin level? Most labs read under 50 µg/g as normal, 50–120 µg/g as borderline (repeat or correlate with symptoms), and above 120 µg/g as elevated — suggesting active intestinal inflammation that warrants further work-up. Exact cutoffs vary slightly by lab and assay. ### How does calprotectin tell IBD apart from IBS? IBD (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis) causes true intestinal inflammation, so calprotectin is usually elevated. IBS is a functional disorder without inflammation, so calprotectin is typically normal. A normal result makes IBD unlikely and points toward IBS; an elevated result points toward IBD and the need for endoscopic evaluation. ### Do I need to fast or prep for a calprotectin test? No fasting and no dietary restrictions — it's a single stool sample collected with the kit provided. If possible, avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) for a few days beforehand; they can raise calprotectin and cause a false positive. ### How much does a calprotectin test cost without insurance? On TestWell, fecal calprotectin is $189.99 all-in. Quest Direct lists a comparable test around $249, and hospital labs often bill $600 or more without insurance. Same CLIA-certified labs (Quest or Labcorp), no doctor visit required. ### What is the CPT code for fecal calprotectin? The CPT code for fecal calprotectin is 83993. Cash-pay patients don't need a CPT code to order through TestWell — it's listed here for your records or HSA/FSA reimbursement. ### How is calprotectin different from a CRP blood test? [CRP](https://www.test-well.com/tests/crp) measures systemic inflammation anywhere in the body from a blood draw; calprotectin is gut-specific and comes from a stool sample. They're complementary — many GI work-ups run both. For broader digestive screening, the [Gut Health Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/gut-health-panel) bundles calprotectin with related markers. ### Can I get a fecal calprotectin test at Labcorp? Yes — TestWell orders run at Labcorp or Quest, whichever is convenient for you, and it's the same fecal calprotectin immunoassay either way (CPT 83993). You don't need Labcorp's internal test number or a doctor's requisition: order online for $189.99, drop the sample kit at a nearby location, and results post to your portal in 3–5 business days. ### Can a calprotectin test replace a colonoscopy? No, but it helps decide who needs one. A normal calprotectin makes significant intestinal inflammation unlikely and can help low-risk patients avoid an unnecessary colonoscopy. Red-flag symptoms — rectal bleeding, anemia, weight loss, or being over 45 — still warrant endoscopic evaluation regardless of the result. ### How often should I retest calprotectin with known IBD? For diagnosed Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, many gastroenterologists recheck calprotectin every 3–6 months, or whenever symptoms change, to track disease activity and catch a relapse early — a rising trend often precedes a flare. ### Is the TestWell fecal calprotectin the same as the Labcorp calprotectin test? Yes. It is the same fecal calprotectin immunoassay run at Labcorp or Quest - the CLIA-certified labs your doctor already uses. The only difference is you order it yourself online without a doctor's visit, and the cash-pay price is $189.99 rather than the $249+ consumer or $600 hospital-billed rates. Results come back in 3-5 business days. ### What calprotectin level suggests IBD versus IBS? As a rule of thumb, a result under ~50 mcg/g makes inflammatory bowel disease unlikely and is more consistent with IBS, while a level over ~120-150 mcg/g suggests active intestinal inflammation that warrants a colonoscopy or GI referral. Values in between are often rechecked. Cutoffs vary by lab, and this is general information, not a diagnosis. ### Can a calprotectin test help me avoid a colonoscopy? Sometimes. In people at low risk, a normal fecal calprotectin makes significant IBD unlikely enough that a colonoscopy can often be deferred - that is the main reason the test exists. A high result, on the other hand, is a strong reason to proceed with scoping. Your gastroenterologist makes the final call, but the number meaningfully informs it. ### Do I need to stop any medications before the test? NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen can inflame the gut lining and push calprotectin up, causing a falsely elevated result. If it is safe for you, providers often suggest pausing them for a couple of weeks beforehand - but never stop a prescribed medication without checking first. No fasting or dietary changes are required. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=calprotectin-stool&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown 2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA. 3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email. 4. Walk into any Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 3–5 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [H. pylori Breath Test](https://www.test-well.com/tests/h-pylori-breath-test-labcorp) — $129.99 - [All Digestive Health tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/digestive-health) - [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/calprotectin-stool Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.