Diagnosis

No single test leads to a Crohn’s diagnosis — doctors use a variety of tests to check for Crohn’s-related inflammation and to rule out other issues.

A doctor may:

• take a complete medical history
• test the blood for infections and inflammatory markers
• perform an endoscopic exam with a thin, flexible tool to look at the intestines

Because Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis cause similar symptoms, differentiating one from the other can be challenging.