Fecal Markers
The feces can be analyzed for various markers that are indicative of various diseases and conditions. For example, fecal calprotectin levels indicate an inflammatory process such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and neoplasms (cancer).
| Reference ranges for fecal markers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marker | Patient type | Upper limit | Unit | ||
| Calprotectin | 2–9 years | 166 | µg/g of feces | ||
| 10–59 years | 51 | ||||
| ≥ 60 years | 112 | ||||
| Lactoferrin | 2–9 years | 29 | |||
| ≥ 10 years | 4.6 | ||||
Also, feces may be analyzed for any fecal occult blood, which is indicative of a gastrointestinal bleeding.
Read more about this topic: Human Feces