ALPCO Calprotectin CLIA Assay - Measurement of Calprotectin Levels in Human Stool

The clinical study serves to confirm the sensitivity and specificity of the ALPCO Calprotectin CLIA as compared to gastroenterologist diagnosis (including colonoscopy results and other clinical information) in patients with signs and symptoms of IBS or IBD, using the proposed cut-off values (50 and 100 µg/g) as both an aid in the diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and as an aid to differentiate IBD from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The clinical study will be conducted in compliance with applicable requirements in the protection of human subjects regulations in 21 CFR part 50, the institutional review boards regulations in 21 CFR part 56, and the investigational device exemptions regulations in 21 CFR part 812. The goal of this clinical study is to confirm the sensitivity and specificity of the ALPCO Calprotectin CLIA in patients using the proposed cut-off value (50 µg/g) as an aid in differentiating between a diagnosis of an Inflammatory Bowel Disease and other non-inflammatory disorders, most notably Irritable Bowel Syndrome. (See Appendix I for draft study protocol). Final assay cut-off will be determined upon completion of analytical studies and product validation. Calprotectin values greater than 50 µg/g (or defined assay cut-off) are indicative of neutrophil infiltrate in the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore signal the presence of an active Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Calprotectin concentrations below this value do not indicate inflammation, but do not eliminate a potential diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Therefore, clinical use of the ALPCO Calprotectin CLIA can generate crucial data to determine whether or not a patient should undergo more invasive testing to diagnose the presence of an Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This clinical study will seek to confirm this conclusion by estimating the predictive value of positive and negative tests using the proposed cut off value in patients referred for diagnostic evaluation with signs and symptoms suggestive of either IBD or IBS. The goal of the study is to generate data to support positive and negative predictive value of the ALPCO Calprotectin assay in patients with signs and symptoms of IBS or IBD. This study will be performed at multiple clinical recruiting sites with a minimum of 3 analytical test sites - ALPCO would be one test site and could test all samples from collection sites only at which endoscopies (colonoscopy) focusing on the diagnosis of bowel inflammation are performed. Patients will be enrolled in the study based on inclusion/exclusion defined criteria. All patients enrolled in the study with signs and symptoms of IBS or IBD, must provide a stool sample prior to having a scheduled endoscopy performed or shortly after the colonoscopy provided treatment has not begun and other inclusion/exclusion criteria have been met. Patients enrolled in the study will be scheduled for a colonoscopy or would have had a colonoscopy in the timeframe listed in the inclusion criteria. Results of the colonoscopy and histology will be used to determine disease status. Stool samples will be stored frozen until such time that they can be tested with the candidate device to determine the calprotectin measured value. Results of the ALPCO Calprotectin CLIA will be compared to the diagnosis obtained during the colonoscopy. Agreement will be defined as follows: A proposed cut-off of \>50 µg/g Calprotectin represents a positive result indicating potential disease. A positive result must be confirmed by colonoscopy results indicating IBD. \< 50 µg/g indicates a negative result. Based on historical recruiting experience, approximately 220 or more patients with suspected IBD will be enrolled in the study with the goal of testing and enrolling 1. approximately 70 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD (Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis); 2. approximately 100 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome; 3. approximately 50 patients with IBD symptoms but a diagnosis of something other than IBD or IBS All enrolled patients must meet the inclusion criteria for the appropriate study group and must provide a stool sample in accordance with protocol requirements. Additionally, we will recruit approximately 100 normal patients that will be tested only with the ALPCO Calprotectin CLIA. The normal patient groups will have no history of disease.