Blue Horizon Medicals Gut health

Faecal Elastase

This at-home stool test measures faecal elastase, an enzyme level used to assess how well the pancreas produces digestive enzymes. It suits people being investigated for possible pancreatic insufficiency alongside advice from a GP.

  • At-home test
  • Doctor reviewed
Sample
Stool
Collection
At-home stool sample by post
Results in
7 days
Biomarkers
1
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Tests for
  • Faecal Elastase

Test specifications

Provider
Blue Horizon Medicals
Sample type
stool
Collection method
at-home stool sample by post
Turnaround time
7 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
Yes
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Blue Horizon Medicals.

Pancreas Health

  • Faecal Elastase

About this test

Faecal elastase is an enzyme normally produced by the pancreas to help digest food. A low level in a stool sample can suggest the pancreas is not producing enough digestive enzymes, most often linked to chronic pancreatitis, so the test is generally used to investigate suspected pancreatic insufficiency rather than as a routine check.

There is no comparison group recorded for this exact test, so we cannot benchmark it against named competitors. Against the broader set of gut health tests we track, £50.25 is well below the £108 median for similarly sized tests, a saving of around 53%, though clinical depth is modest since it is a single-marker test in the lower third of the category by marker count.

Value for money is the strongest driver of the overall score here, followed by clarity, since the listing sets out a detailed description, the biomarker, sample type, turnaround and collection method. Collection convenience is only middling because, while it can be done at home, results take around 7 days, longer than several other Blue Horizon stool tests.

Who is it for?

This suits you if you have ongoing digestive symptoms that could point to reduced pancreatic function, or if a GP has suggested checking pancreatic enzyme levels and you want a private, at-home option. The provider notes that a loose stool sample can give a falsely low reading, so it is worth following the collection instructions carefully or discussing an unexpected result with a GP rather than treating it as final.

How it works

You collect a stool sample at home and post it to the lab. The lab measures the level of faecal elastase, an enzyme linked to pancreatic function, and results are typically ready in around 7 days. A doctor reviews the results before you receive them.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Priced around 53% below the median for similarly sized gut health tests we track
  • Fully at-home collection by post
  • Doctor reviews your results before you see them
  • Detailed provider description of what the marker measures

Cons

  • Single-marker test, so it gives no wider picture of digestive health
  • Turnaround of around 7 days is slower than some other stool tests from this provider
  • A loose stool sample can artificially lower the result, according to the provider
  • No comparison group listed for this specific marker, so pricing can't be checked against named competitors

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Pancreatic enzyme test priced well below category median
Editorial confidence: 10.0/10

This single-marker stool test checks faecal elastase, a marker of pancreatic enzyme function, for £50.25. We hold no named comparison-group data for this specific test, but the price sits about 53% below the £108 median for similarly sized gut health tests we track. The main caveat is that a loose stool sample can artificially lower the result.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 8.0/10

    The listing publishes a short description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 6.4/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 32nd percentile of gut health tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 7.0/10

    A stool sample you take at home, no needle; results in around 7 days, slower than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 7.0/10

    Results are reviewed by a doctor; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 7.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 395 reviews; accredited lab (UKAS ISO 15189 partner labs); trading 17+ years.

  • Value for money 9.2/10

    £50.25 against a median of £108.00 for the 29 similarly sized gut health tests we track (-53%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

More in Gut health

View all →
Selph

Coeliac Disease Blood Test

Broad coeliac panel priced well below rivals

A 4-antibody blood panel used to assess for coeliac disease, covering tissue transglutaminase, endomysial and deamidated gliadin antibodies plus total IgA, for people with ongoing gut symptoms after eating gluten.

  • At-home test
9.4 / 10
£63.00
Full review →
Selph

Complete Gut Health Test & Symptom Screen

Broad symptom screen with no peers yet to compare against

An 11-marker combined blood and stool panel screening for the main causes of gut symptoms, including inflammation, infection, coeliac disease and thyroid function, for people with ongoing but unexplained gut issues.

  • At-home test
8.4 / 10
£319.00
Full review →
Selph

Essential IBS Test

Broad symptom screen priced above the coeliac group median

A 4-marker blood and stool panel screening for coeliac antibodies, gut inflammation and H. pylori infection, for people with IBS-type symptoms who want other common causes checked alongside a GP assessment.

  • At-home test
8.3 / 10
£199.00
Full review →