While the concept of stool analysis isn’t super sexy, it can provide a TON of information about the function (or dysfunction) of your GI tract. And GI MAP is a DNA based stool test that is simply the most comprehensive tool for quantifying the presence of beneficial and harmful bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. The test was designed to detect microbes that may be disturbing normal microbial balance or contributing to illness as well as indicators of digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune function.
How does it work?
GI-MAP quantifies gastrointestinal microbiota DNA from a single stool sample with state of the art, quantitative polymerase chain reaction
(qPCR or real-time PCR) technology. This is a leap forward from older methodologies that report only positive or negative. Results are reported as colony forming units per gram of stool (CFU/g). One CFU is roughly equivalent to one microorganism (or one cell). Results are expressed in standard scientific notation.
Reference ranges were developed using known positive, diseased samples to construct cut off values that distinguish disease-causing amounts of pathogenic and opportunistic microbes. Reference ranges for the pathogens were correlated with an FDA cleared assay for GI pathogens. The GI-MAP is capable of detecting as low as 0.1 cell per gram of stool.
What Shows Up
Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites known to cause gastroenteritis are all measured. *It’s important to note that the presence of such pathogens does not always produce gastrointestinal symptoms.* The overall health of the individual is important to take into consideration, as is the transient nature of some of these pathogens. GI-MAP also tests for intestinal health markers and the presence of antibiotic resistant genes.
Who Can Benefit
Anyone with the following:
- Autoimmune issues (with or without GI complaints)
- Eczema or skin rashes
- Health changes after traveling
- GI pain
- Nausea
- Pain after eating
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Gas or bloating
- Vomiting
- Abdominal distention
- Persistent fatigue, sleep problems
Clinical Applications
There are many variations of digestive upset – nausea, diarrhea, constipation, distention, pain after eating, etc, etc. and as many reasons that produce each symptom. To throw a probiotic (and which one? how much?), enzymes or worse, an antibiotic (there goes all your good bacteria, too!) at GI complaints is short sighted at best and deleterious at worst.
The plethora of information gleaned from GI-MAP allows us to treat issues specifically and create targeted protocols that eliminate pathogens and restore balance. With this information, we can identify where the pathogen came from, and take steps to address the exposure and eliminate the risk of re-infection. Depending on the issue, this can look like diet modification, colon hydrotherapy, increased detoxification protocols, increased air or water filtration, environment change in addition to specific supplement (or prescription when warranted) protocols.
In Sum
GI-MAP Advantages
True DNA/PCR Assay
Quantitative PCR Pathogen Testing
High Sensitivity and Specificity
Antibiotic Resistance Genes
H. pylori and Virulence Factors
Got questions? Think you could benefit from GI-MAP? Email us here or make an appointment here.
