Test Kit # 401H  G.I. Pathogen Screen

Test Results Include:

• Ova and parasites such as protozoa, flatworms, or roundworms; immunoglobulin G (IgG) to Cryptosporidium parvum , Entamoeba histolytica , and Giardia lamblia antigens in stool; bacteria, fungi (including yeasts), and occult blood; and Clostridium difficile colitis toxins A and B plus H. Pylori antigen
• Sample required: 6 vials and 1 slide with stool samples
• Lab reporting time: 7 - 10 business days
• Lab Fee $255

To order kit for only $160 plus S&H click here. You pay lab fees direct to lab when you submit saliva and urine specimens.

Overview

This stool analysis determines the presence of ova and parasites such as protozoa, flatworms, or roundworms; immunoglobulin G (IgG) to Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia antigens in stool; bacteria, fungi (including yeasts), and occult blood; and Clostridium difficile colitis toxins A and B. Five stool samples and one smear are taken over a four-day period, providing a highly reliable comprehensive analysis of intestinal microflora.

Also: Each stool analysis determines the presence of Helicobactor pylori (H. Pylori) using antibody to antigen on stool. A positive result always indicates active infection.

Physiology

Causes for concern are both an overgrowth of microorganisms that are normally present in the intestines and the presence of microorganisms that are not normally present in the intestines. Either condition signals that major physiological pathways in the intestinal environment are outside homeostatic limits. Some of the immediate sequelae include adverse alterations in pH, digestion, and absorption. These factors set the stage for further deviations from health, including the retention and proliferation of microorganisms that would be maintained ordinarily at a lower concentration, or would be rapidly expelled. Such conditions can produce anatomic disruption of the intestinal mucosa resulting from the physical infestation of the microorganism, and chemical insult and physiological upset of the mucosa caused by adverse reactions to the metabolic products of the invader. Maldigestion and malabsorption, which in turn causes nutrient and water deprivation, can produce longer-term dysfunction of the host. The insidious nature of this condition is marked by the observation that it can persist subclinically for years, even decades. By the time signs and symptoms become evident, the patient might be suffering severe and extensive underlying pathophysiology.

Even more ominous than a primary infestation is the tendency of invading microorganisms to metamorphosize into various stages, and to migrate to tissues and organs sometimes distant from the gastrointestinal tract. Such stages, including cysts, can remain dormant within tissues, and can be extremely difficult to detect. Discouragingly, the level of difficulty of detection is often directly proportional to the level of difficulty of treatment. These factors underscore the importance of maintaining constant vigilance in controlling the intestinal environment.

Secondary infections, often involving so-called “opportunistic” organisms, can provide evidence of a more deeply rooted, insidious process. One such organism is the yeast Candida albicans, which is implicated in a variety of disorders and has a predilection for virtually any mucous membrane. Often innocuously present in small amounts, it is important not only to control its concentration, but also to correct the causes and the effects of its proliferation.

Several methods can be used to detect intestinal microflora. Direct microscopic examination can reveal the ova and mature forms of parasites; immunological analysis can detect active immunoglobulins to pathogens; chemical analysis can reveal the presence of toxins and occult blood. All three methods are used in the GI Pathogen Screen (BHD #401). Varying fecal transit times and the natural cycling of parasites through their successive stages mandate a sufficiently large group of samples to provide a representative profile; samples taken on four days are used in this screen.

Clinical Use

Optimal intestinal health is a prerequisite for most body physiology. The functions of digestion and absorption are so fundamental to the maintenance of homeostasis in metabolism that every physiological process is ultimately dependent upon the intestines. Suboptimal intestinal function can be either a basic cause of or a substantial contributor to a variety of disorders, some of which may have seemingly little or no obvious clinical correlation to intestinal physiology. This reliable intestinal microflora screen documents parasitic and pathogenic involvement that can interfere with intestinal function.

Conditions Assessed

Conditions that may be assessed include suspected parasitic or pathogen infection, maldigestion, malabsorption and pathologies caused by infectious agents.

Logical Sequence of Testing

The logical sequence of using this test as an initial or a follow-up test is determined by a variety of individual considerations, including the patient’s chief complaint, the array of signs and symptoms, the chronicity of the condition, the tests previously taken, and the judgment of your practitioner.