OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of introducing the calprotectin test into primary health care in Poland to differentiate inflammatory bowel disesese (IBD) from functional disorders (IBS) and other organic diseases of gastrointestinal (GI) tract. METHODS:  Medical databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane) were searched. The predefined inclusion criteria comprised RCTs or cohort studies on adults with GI symptoms, calprotectin as index test and colonoscopy as reference test being performed and data on/enabling the calculation of diagnostic test accuracy parameters being present. The clinical and methodological heterogeneity of the included studies was assessed and meta-analysis performed. The decision tree opposing two strategies: Test an Don’t test (all patients undergoing colonoscopy) was built. CEA was done from the public payer’s perspective. RESULTS: