What does a borderline fecal calprotectin result mean for IBD vs IBS?

[AndrewT]

My gastroenterologist ordered a fecal calprotectin test to help figure out if my abdominal issues are IBD or something else like IBS. The results came back elevated, but not extremely high. I'm waiting for a follow-up, but I'm confused—what does a borderline result actually mean, and how definitive is this test?

[Violet_W]

Borderline here means not clearly normal and not clearly inflamed. Most labs peg normal as under about 50 µg/g, with a gray zone often labeled borderline roughly 50–120 µg/g; exact cutoffs depend on the lab and assay, so your number may sit in a lab’s specific reference range. The bottom line is it isn’t definitive on its own. fecal calprotectin