The GI Effects Gut Pathogen test combines advanced technology with traditional laboratory techniques to thoroughly analyse your gut health. Here’s how your stool sample is evaluated:

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Testing
This modern method detects bacteria’s DNA directly from your sample. PCR is especially valuable for identifying anaerobic bacteria, which do not survive when exposed to oxygen and are challenging to grow in a lab. PCR offers a more accurate and comprehensive picture of your gut microbiome by examining bacterial DNA.

Culture Method
Culturing involves growing bacteria and yeasts, such as candida, in a petri dish. Once growth is achieved, the lab tests different pharmaceutical and natural antimicrobial agents against the organisms to identify the most effective ones. This approach helps determine targeted treatment options.

Microscopy
Expert lab technicians use microscopes to visually inspect your stool for the presence of yeast, parasite eggs, and other organisms that may not be detected through DNA analysis alone.

Bacterial and Fungal Sensitivity Testing

The GI Effects Gut Pathogen report includes a bacteria and mycology sensitivity panel. This panel tests how effectively various antimicrobial agents — including medications and natural plant-based substances — work against any harmful microbes in your sample. It’s an essential guide for creating an effective treatment plan.

Please note: Plant tannins are no longer offered as a botanical option in the sensitivity analysis due to manufacturer changes.

This digestive stool test identifies microbial imbalances, including harmful bacteria, yeasts, and parasites. It uses advanced techniques like PCR (DNA testing), culture, and microscopy to provide a detailed picture of gut pathogens.

Bacterial and Yeast Culture with Sensitivity Testing

The test identifies both beneficial and potentially harmful microorganisms:

• Bifidobacterium

• Escherichia coli (E. coli)

• Lactobacillus species

When yeasts like Candida are detected, the lab performs a sensitivity test to determine the most effective antifungal treatments (natural or pharmaceutical).

Parasite Screening: Comprehensive Detection

The test screens for various intestinal parasites, including protozoa and helminths (worms). Detection is done through:

• PCR (DNA-based detection)

• Microscopy

• Ova and Parasite (O&P) examination

Protozoa Detected by PCR:

• Blastocystis spp. (with subtype analysis)

• Cryptosporidium spp.

• Cyclospora cayetanensis

• Dientamoeba fragilis

• Entamoeba histolytica

• Giardia lamblia

Full Parasitology Panel (Alphabetically Listed):

Cestodes (Tapeworms):

• Diphyllobothrium latum

• Dipylidium caninum

• Hymenolepis diminuta

• Hymenolepis nana

• Taenia spp.

Nematodes (Roundworms):

• Ancylostoma/Necator (hookworm)

• Ascaris lumbricoides

• Capillaria philippinensis

• Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)

• Strongyloides stercoralis

• Trichuris trichiura

Protozoa:

• Balantidium coli

• Chilomastix mesnili

• Cryptosporidium spp.

• Cyclospora cayetanensis

• Dientamoeba fragilis

• Endolimax nana

• Entamoeba coli

• Entamoeba dispar

• Entamoeba hartmanni

• Entamoeba histolytica

• Entamoeba polecki

• Giardia spp.

• Iodamoeba buetschlii

• Trichomonads (e.g. Pentatrichomonas)

Trematodes (Flukes):

• Clonorchis/Opisthorchis spp.

• Fasciola spp. / Fasciolopsis buski

• Heterophyes/Metagonimus spp.

• Paragonimus spp.

• Schistosoma spp.

Additional Microscopy Findings

These markers help identify inflammation or immune responses in the gut:

• Charcot-Leyden Crystals: A sign of eosinophil activity often linked to parasite infection or allergies

• White Blood Cells (WBCs): Presence suggests an immune response to infection or inflammation

To enhance the depth of your stool test results, you can include the following optional pathogen-specific add-ons:

• Clostridium difficile (C. diff): A pathogenic bacterium associated with antibiotic-related diarrhoea and colitis. This test identifies toxin-producing strains.

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): A common bacterial infection linked to gastritis, ulcers, and potential long-term gastrointestinal complications.

These optional panels provide valuable insight for individuals with chronic digestive symptoms, recent antibiotic use, or suspected stomach infections.

You will need to provide stool samples collected over three consecutive days. This multi-day collection helps increase the accuracy and reliability of detecting gut pathogens, parasites, and other microbial imbalances.

To ensure accurate and reliable results, please follow these guidelines before collecting your stool samples:

Important Timing Considerations:

• Menstruation and Haemorrhoids: Women should avoid collecting samples during menstruation. Do not collect if there is active bleeding from haemorrhoids.

• After a Colonoscopy or Barium Enema, Wait at least 4 weeks before starting the test.

• After Medications or Supplements: Wait 2 weeks after completing antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, probiotic supplements (like acidophilus), or probiotic-rich foods (such as Activia®).

• 48 Hours Before Testing: Avoid digestive enzymes, antacids, and aspirin unless advised otherwise by your healthcare provider.

Note on Lactoferrin Supplements: While lactoferrin doesn’t directly alter the test results, it may influence gut wall health and permeability. Consider pausing these supplements for 72 hours before starting your test collection for the best accuracy.

Consult Your Doctor First: Never discontinue prescribed medication without speaking to your GP or practitioner.

While this test can provide valuable insights into gut microbiome balance and the presence of harmful pathogens, it is generally not recommended for children under the age of 2. This is because the infant’s gut microbiota is developing, which may influence the accuracy of several test markers.

Specifically:

• Calprotectin and lactoferrin levels can appear elevated in young children, especially breastfed children.

• Clostridium difficile results will not be reported for children under two due to common non-pathogenic colonisation in this age group.

Despite these limitations, testing may still be helpful in some instances. If you’re considering testing a child under 2, we recommend working closely with a qualified practitioner to interpret the results accurately.

Please return your samples using a next-day delivery service from Monday to Thursday. Ensure the samples are refrigerated before posting.

Your test kit includes a courier return option, and the cost of both the courier and the test is paid directly to the laboratory. Alternatively, you can use your next-day courier service to send the samples.

Tests typically take 2 to 3 weeks from the date you send them back. We will email you the results when we receive them.