Inflammatory bowel disease


Test in Focus

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) serology testing at Mayo Clinic Laboratories can help physicians distinguish between an ulcerative colitis diagnosis and a Crohn’s disease diagnosis. Melissa Snyder, Ph.D., explains in a “Test in Focus” episode of the “Answers From the Lab” podcast how the IBDP2 serology panel can make this important distinction after first-line testing has failed.

The IBDP2 serology panel investigates the presence of antibodies against Saccharomyces cerevisiae IgA and IgG, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) to confirm disease presence in patients with an unclear diagnosis.

“Inflammatory bowel disease can be a difficult diagnosis,” says Dr. Snyder. “We certainly know a lot about the genetics of IBD, but we do not have a strong genetic marker. There are a lot of contributing genes that lead to the development of IBD.”

Dr. Synder explains where the IBDP2 panel may come into the diagnostic process for IBD. “First there is a screen for fecal calprotectin. If it is elevated, then imaging is performed, and pathologic analysis, and if that is still not giving you the information you need and there is a suspicion for IBD, then the IBDP2 panel may be helpful in those patients.”

With this test offering from Mayo Clinic Laboratories, physicians can obtain reliable results to help them make a definitive diagnosis. “The serology test is most useful in a subset of patients where the physician is fairly certain IBD is the correct diagnosis, but it may be unclear if it is ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease,” says Dr. Snyder.

For more information about the IBDP2 serology panel, listen to this “Answers From the Lab” podcast episode on Mayo Clinic Laboratories Insights.

Luci Gens

Luci Gens is a senior marketing specialist. She joined Mayo Clinic in 2022 and has over ten years of experience in hospital-based marketing and communications.