Your Health Where It Belongs... Your Hands

Note: This is a home collection test kit that will be mailed to you. NOT to be used for children under the age of 2. This is a three day collection kit.

Test not eligible for Coupon Codes.
Fasting Required: No
Lab: Genova Diagnostics
Specimen: Stool
Results: Average processing time 14-21 business days
Note: Result turnaround times are an estimate and are not guaranteed. Our reference lab may need additional time due to weather, holidays, confirmation/repeat testing, or equipment maintenance.

Special Instructions:

• Ship to lab Monday-Friday and avoid US holidays which may cause delays. Specimen MUST be shipped within 24 hours of final collection.
• Wait at least 4 weeks from colonoscopy or barium enema before beginning the test.
• If taking antibiotics, antiparasitics, antifungals, or probiotic supplements (acidophilus, etc.) it is recommended that you wait a minimum of 14 days after your last dose before beginning the test; 28 days may be preferred after antibiotics have been utilized.
• For H. pylori testing, discontinuation of PPIs, antibiotics, and bismuth is recommended 14 days prior to collection.
• Unless directed otherwise by your physician, discontinue aspirin and other NSAIDs (i.e. ibuprofen), rectal suppositories, enemas, activated charcoal, bismuth, betaine HCI, digestive enzymes, antacids, laxatives, mineral oil, castor oil, and bentonite clay for two days prior to collection.

Description: The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile is an advanced stool test that provides immediate, actionable clinical information for the management of gastrointestinal health. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies and biomarkers, this test offers valuable insight into digestive function, intestinal inflammation, and the intestinal microbiome.

The GI Effects Stool Profiles can reveal important information about the root cause of many common gastrointestinal symptoms and non-GI conditions including:

• Gas
• Bloating
• Indigestion/ reflux
• Abdominal pain/ cramps
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Atopic dermatitis/ eczema
• Allergies
• Autoimmune diseases
• Mood disorders (depression)
• Joint aches
• Diabetes
• Weight issues

The health of the entire body is dependent on a healthy gut and gut microbiome. Gut microbes are codependent with one another and with their human host, and the health of one affects the other. A sizeable volume of research associates a dysbiotic, or imbalanced gut microbiome with multiple disease states both within and outside of the GI tract. The diverse metabolic activities of the microbiome ultimately impact the human host, and the activities of the human host ultimately affect the health of their microbiome.

The biomarkers from the GI Effects Comprehensive Profile are reported using the DIG framework, providing key clinical information for three main gastrointestinal functional areas:

Digestion/Absorption:

• Pancreatic Elastase-1 is a marker of exocrine pancreatic function.
• Products of Protein Breakdown are markers of undigested protein reaching the colon.
• Fecal Fat is a marker of fat breakdown and absorption.

Inflammation/Immunology:

• Calprotectin is a marker of neutrophil-driven inflammation. Produced in abundance at sites of inflammation, this biomarker has been proven clinically useful in differentiating between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
• Eosinophil Protein X is a marker of eosinophil-driven inflammation and allergic response.
• Fecal Secretory IgA is a marker of gut secretory immunity and barrier function.
• Fecal Occult Blood Test detects hidden blood; fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) has been recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology as the preferred noninvasive test for colorectal cancer screening/detection.

Gut Microbiome:

• Metabolic indicators, including short-chain fatty acids and beta-glucuronidase, demonstrate specific and vital metabolic functions performed by the microbiota.
• Commensal Bacteria demonstrate the composition and relative abundance of gut organisms. More than 95% of commensal gut organisms are anaerobic and are difficult to recover by traditional (aerobic) culture techniques. GI Effects assesses a set of 24 genera/species that map to 7 major phyla. 16S rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplification technique. Comprehensive microbiome analysis included.
  
• Bacterial and mycology cultures demonstrate the presence of specific beneficial and pathological organisms. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology is used for limitless bacterial and fungal species identification via culture. Bacteria and mycology sensitivities are provided for pathogenic or potentially pathogenic organisms that have been cultured. The report includes effective prescriptive and natural agents.

• Parasitology includes comprehensive testing for all parasites on every parasitology exam ordered. GI Effects provides microscopic fecal specimen examination for ova and parasites (O&P), the gold standard of diagnosis for many parasites. 6 Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targets detect common protozoal parasites including Blastocystis spp., Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia. PCR for organisms is emerging as a highly sensitive method for infectious organism detection. Selection of a one-day or three-day sample collection is based on the clinician's clinical index of suspicion for parasitic infection. If there is no/low suspicion, a one-day sample will likely be adequate. For high suspicion, a three-day sample collection is optimal.

Analytes Reported:

• Acetate %
• Akkermansia muciniphila
• Anaerotruncus colihominis
• Bacteriology
• Bacteroides vulgatus
• Bacteroides-Prevotella group
• Barnesiella spp.
• Beta- glucuronidase
• Bifidobacterium longum
• Bifidobacterium spp.
• Butyrivibrio crossotus
• Calprotectin
• Cholesterol
• Clostridium spp.
• Collinsella aerofaciens
• Color
• Consistency
• Coprococcus eutactus
• Desulfovibrio piger
• Eosinophil Protein X (EPX)
• Escherichia coli
• Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
• Fecal Fat (Total)
• Fecal Occult Blood
• Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B Ratio)
• Fusobacterium spp.
• Helicobacter pylori EIA
• Lactobacillus spp.
• Long Chain Fatty Acids
• Methanobrevibacter smithii
• Mic Sensitivities, Yeast or Bacteria
• Microscopic Exam Results
• Mycology (Yeast/Fungi)
• Odoribacter spp.
• Other Biomarkers
• Oxalobacter formigenes
• Pancreatic Elastase 1
• Parasitology
• Phospholipids
• Prevotella spp.
• Products of Protein Breakdown (Total) (Valerate+Isobutyrate+Isovalerate)
• Propionate %.
• Pseudoflavonifractor spp.
• Roseburia spp.
• Ruminococcus spp.
• SCFA (Total) (Acetate, n-Butyrate, Propionate)
• Triglycerides
• Veillonella spp.
• n-Butyrate %
• n-Butyrate Concentration

Additional Biomarkers Available for add-on at additional cost:

• Campylobacter EIA
• Clostridium difficile EIA (not available for persons under age 2)
• Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli Shiga-like toxin
• Fecal Lactoferrin
• Direct Examination for Parasites
• KOH Preparation for Yeast
• Zonulin Family Peptide, Stool

Additional Microbiome Module:

• Microbiomix offers metagenomic shotgun/ whole genome sequencing to assess your patient's complete gut microbiome as well as its potential function. Microbiomix complements the information provided on the GI Effects.