Stool test 'accurate for diagnosing bowel diseases'

[SarahD]

BBC news report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26769388

Scientific paper: http://iopscience.iop.org/1752-7163/8/2/026001/article

The use of a gas chromatograph coupled to a metal oxide sensor for rapid assessment of stool samples from irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease patients

Abstract
There is much clinical interest in the development of a low-cost and reliable test for diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), two very distinct diseases that can present with similar symptoms. The assessment of stool samples for the diagnosis of gastro-intestinal diseases is in principle an ideal non-invasive testing method. This paper presents an approach to stool analysis using headspace gas chromatography and a single metal oxide sensor coupled to artificial neural network software. Currently, the system is able to distinguish samples from patients with IBS from patients with IBD with a sensitivity and specificity of 76% and 88% respectively, with an overall mean predictive accuracy of 76%.

 

[lsgs]

I wonder when this will be readily available. Very interesting. Although I do wonder what advantage it has over stool calprotectin, which doctors don't take too seriously unless you're diagnosed.

Part of me thinks with overall accuracy of 76% they will still want scopes/scans and if you're like me and everything else shows inflammation and they can't find anything on scope, this won't change anything!!

 

[PVail]

It would be great if there was some way that your GP could actually test you instead of waiting for a GI appointment which can take months and generally with no definive conclusion. Surely in this day and age ther are specific markers that can be assigned to IBD.
Colonoscopies and CT scans I think only show visual signs and these can easily be missed or mis read by the doctor, even biopsies are not very specific as Crohns is transmural and so will not be in every part of the GI tract at any given time.
I think test need to be developed A, to identify a patient profile ie general diet and patient general history and health.( in other words in the ill health self inflicted by poor lifestyle or diet ) B, Is there any family history of IBS or IBD ?.
C , a pre determined series of blood tests should be taken ,when the patient is feeling well and when the patient is feeling unwell.
Doctors as far as I see do not relate to the calprotectine test results, I ave chatted to a friend of mine who is a new doctor and says that its not proven either one way or another yet.
Doctors need to stop labelling everyone with a general IBS diagnosis just because a colonoscopy proved inconclusive. Continual tests need to be carried out from the initial contact with the doctor to really determine the cause of the illness not just treat symptoms.

I would certainly welcome any new tests but I would want to see the proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the test have merit. Because you dont have IBD today but have lots of symptoms does not mean you wont develope it over the coming months or years and this maybe down to being misdiagnosed in the first place.

Peter