Rapid fecal calprotectin (FC) analysis: point of care testing for diagnosing early necrotizing enterocolitis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare fecal calprotectin (FC) levels as measured by a rapid FC assay with those measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from concurrent stool samples. We also attempted to demonstrate a correlation between elevated rapid assay FC levels and the presence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and to define a cutoff FC value which could serve as a basis for diagnosing NEC in the future.

Study Design: Stool samples were collected for FC analysis at 1 and 3 weeks postnatally and whenever there was clinical suspicion of NEC.