Gastrointestinal Health Panel

Simple to order. Take the test at home. Mail to the lab.
No presciption required.

Accurately identify the source of your symptoms through testing.

Gastrointestinal complaints are widespread. Although many complaints are vague, the long-term clinical consequences of untreated complaints can impair assimilation of food, reduce regenerative capacity and increase your rate of aging. The causes of these complaints are investigated in the GI Health Panel.

GI Health Panel non-invasively evaluates the gastro-intestinal tract and its function. It includes at least 15-22 individual, but related tests. Stool and saliva samples are submitted after collection in the privacy of your own home and tested utilizing proven biochemical and state of the art methods. The panel includes:

Pathogen screening: bacteria, fungi, yeast, and various parasites.

Digestion related screens: enzyme levels and immunochemical markers for intolerance to common offending foods.

Intestinal function markers: evaluate irritation and inflammation and indicate overall status of gut immunity and integrity, i.e. occult blood, etc.

GI Health Panel strikes a balance between comprehensive screening and economy by bundling appropriate individual tests that would otherwise cost over $700 at current prices.

The GI Health Panel is useful in diagnosing the cause of the following:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Chronic loose stools or constipation
• Fat, grain and food intolerances
• Chronic abdominal discomfort/pain
• Excessive, poor or erratic eating patterns
• Sudden changes in bowel habits
• Bloating, maldigestion, heartburn
• Excessive gas and flatulence
• Chronic skin conditions
• Hyperactivity
• Poor sleeping habits

Background

The gastrointestinal tract is essentially an external part of the body. This is the reason we do not have to sterilize our food, but only be sure it is clean and wholesome. Presently, the risk of being infected or infested by pathogenic organisms through food and water is ever increasing. This is due to several reasons: immigration; frequent overseas travel; importation of vegetables and fruits; lack of a public health policy to screen food handlers for transmissible pathogens; outdoor and wilderness excursions; alternate life- styles; agricultural pollution; pets at home, etc.

Currently, World Health Organization studies indicate that about 1/2 billion individuals are infected annually by Amoeba histolytica and about the same number are infected by Giardia and cryptosporidium. Considering all parasites, more than 1/4 of the Earth's population is infected at any one time. More serious efforts must be made to prevent, identify, and treat these widespread and debilitating infections.

Mode of transmission & Who is at risk

The predominant method of transmission of parasites is the fecal - oral route through hand contact with infected individuals or via contaminated water and food. Many parasites are highly transmissible within a household environment. All family members should be tested if one member is positive for GI infection.

People with suppressed immunity, eg. T-cell (white cell) dysfunction and defects in intestinal antibody (IgA) secretion, are predisposed to protracted and heavy infections with GI pathogens. Individuals with cancer and those receiving chemotherapy for cancer are very susceptible to parasitic infection(s). Frequent and excessive overutilization of antibiotics renders the GI tract more susceptible to chronic overgrowth of harmful micro-organisms. These can produce a wide range of systemic toxins and/or cause severe irritation of large areas of fragile, nutrient absorbing intestinal tissue.

Bodily functions affected by GI pathogens

Intestinal pathogen infections cannot be clinically differentiated solely on the basis of medical history, physical exam and/or symptoms. Specifc diagnosis requires laboratory evaluation and confrmation. Other common tests do not include the specialized testing and confrmation provided by the GI Health Panel. Asymptomatic, mild symptomatic and overt GI pathogen infections can affect and deter gastrointestinal function, and, if undetected, will lead to chronic illness.

Treatment & Prevention

Detection and specifc diagnosis of the pathogens, including a broad spectrum of microfora and common parasites is of paramount importance. This is because successful therapy is dependent on two primary issues. First, accurate and specifc diagnosis of causative agent in a patient who presents with otherwise general and non-specifc complaints and symptoms. Second, specifc therapeutic agents can be targeted to eradicate offending micro-organisms with an extremely high success rate, with minimal side effects.

Advantages & Benefits

Non-invasive sampling: saliva and stool

Home collection: no office visit

Economical

Comprehensive: detects a broad spectrum of common pathogens and includes digestion efficiency evaluation

Improved wellness: general GI complaints identified and resolved

Modular: retesting of one or several abnormal findings is available without repeating the entire panel

Common Applications

Anyone with chronic and vague GI symptoms including:

• Frequent bloating, gas, cramping, and constipation
• Frequent travel within US and/or overseas
• Frequent eating outside the home
• Homosexuals
• Food handlers - to protect others
• Food preparers at restaurants, homes, schools, etc.
• Institutionalized individuals
• Uniformed services
• Dormitory Residents - common quarters
• Children that go to daycare centers

GI Health Panel is a full spectrum panel that gives you a complete profile of digestive health.

How to Get the Test

Your test is ordered through me in my capacity as a Certified Nutritionist.

Call the number below or use our secure online shopping cart.

The test kit with full instructions will be sent to you within a few days. A small shipping and handling fee applies.

Collect the specimens at your convenience and send directly to the independent laboratory.

The test results are sent to me and I will forward a copy to you.

We then schedule a time to discuss the interpretations and implications of the results and possible nutritional and lifestyle treatment programs appropriate for you based on your test results.

You'll have the option of working with me further to treat your results and resolve the problems revealed in your testing. 

The main value of these tests is to enable us to more accurately and precisely implement preventive and wellness measures to increase your health and well-being and reduce your future risks of illness and degenerative conditions.

To Your Health,

The fee for the
The Expanded Gastrointestinal Health Panel
functional health test is
$385