What the GI Map measures
The GI Map uses quantitative PCR (qPCR), which detects the DNA of specific organisms and reports how much of each is present. Older stool tests rely on growing organisms in a culture or finding them under a microscope, which misses many that do not survive the trip to the lab.
The report is organized into the groups below.
| Section | Examples | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Pathogens | C. difficile toxins, Salmonella, Campylobacter, toxin-producing E. coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, norovirus | Bacteria, parasites and viruses known to cause gastrointestinal illness |
| H. pylori | Helicobacter pylori with eight virulence factors and antibiotic-resistance genes | Whether H. pylori is present and how it may behave |
| Commensal bacteria | Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia; Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes | The balance of bacteria that normally live in a healthy gut |
| Opportunistic bacteria | Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Proteus, Citrobacter | Bacteria that cause problems when they overgrow |
| Fungi and yeast | Candida species, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula | Yeast overgrowth |
| Parasites | Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Endolimax nana; five worms | Protozoa and worms |
| Viruses | Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus | Viral DNA present in the gut |
| Digestion | Elastase-1, steatocrit | Pancreatic enzyme output and fat absorption |
| Inflammation and immune | Calprotectin, secretory IgA, anti-gliadin IgA, eosinophil activation protein | Gut inflammation and immune activity |
| Other GI markers | Beta-glucuronidase, occult blood | An enzyme tied to detoxification and hormone recycling; hidden blood in the stool |
When a GI Map is useful
People usually order a GI Map for digestive symptoms that have not been explained: bloating, gas, irregular stools, abdominal discomfort, or symptoms that began after a stomach bug, travel or a course of antibiotics. It is also used to look for a gut contribution to problems outside the gut.
The GI Map is one input. It does not diagnose inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease or cancer, and it is not a substitute for a colonoscopy or for seeing a doctor about blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss or severe pain. A high calprotectin or a positive occult blood result is a reason for medical follow-up, and we will tell you so at your review.
Collecting your sample
You collect a single stool sample at home with the tools in the kit and send it back to the lab. The kit instructions cover the steps and how to store the sample until it ships.
Tell us about any antibiotics, antifungals, probiotics and acid-reducing medication you take or have recently finished, because they can change the results. Do not stop a prescribed medication for the test unless your prescriber tells you to.