Anti Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (ASCA), IgA Test in AIIMS, Delhi

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is primarily of two types - Crohns disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD is inflammation of the small/large intestine. A case of IBD is detected by conducting a barium X-ray, colonoscopy or mucosal biopsy histology of the intestine. A person with IBD will complain of rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and discomfort, diarrhea, fatigue, fever and other organ related problems. Saccharomyces Cerevisiae is yeast commonly used in food industry. Patients with IBD have Anti Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Antibodies or ASCA. The test for Anti Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Antibodies (ASCA) helps to distinguish between Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Persons with IBD often have ASCA or immune proteins in their blood. Two different classes of ASCA in the blood – IgA and IgG are tested. ASCA IgA test is performed on a sample of blood.