I no longer run the test service, see options for ordering here. However, I have left the test info up for you as there’s a lot of good advice here. Hope it helps!
The gut is usually where we start looking for clues in any chronic condition, especially in any kind of food sensitivity, digestive issues like boating, wind, poor immunity, autoimmunity, but also for things like brain fog. Have a read of these factsheets and see if anything resonates with you: IBS, SIgA, SIBO, Leaky Gut, Allergy & Intolerance, Low Stomach Acid, Acid Reflux/Gerd, Candida.
Testing Summary
The best overall gut test is the DD GI360, which you can order direct using that link or here on the shop. It just gives so much useful, practical information about your gut. I especially like the markers included to help find causes of food sensitivity. For other gut tests like SIBO, Leaky Gut, H Pylori etc, see the recommendations below. You can read more about gut testing and see my results videos here. And see the Gut Treatment Plan and Gut Results Guide, plus Stomach Acid Factsheet here.
Essentially, the GI360 covers PCR and MALDI-TOF types of testing for bacteria, yeasts (including candida), parasites and some key gut viruses, but also uses microscopy and culture to confirm things. It gives you useful clinical information on inflammation levels, malabsorption, short chain fatty acids (important for food sensitivity, infections etc), leaky gut, blood presence and SIgA (the gut immunity and food ‘safety’ marker) and also gives you an idea of what natural and antibiotic remedies any ‘baddies’ found are most sensitive to – in your particular case.
You have the option of doing 1, 2 or 3 day collections – I always prefer at least 2, preferably 3, because parasites hide and you’ve more chance of finding them.
SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)
The Breathtrackers SIBO breath test is a good choice here. You can do either the SIBO Glucose or SIBO Lactulose (both RG and can be ordered direct or here on the shop). SIBO guru Alison Siebecker recommends lactulose mostly but there is a school of thought that it is best to do both. For info, the starches/sugars used in this type of SIBO test are likely to contain corn so will not TGF safe. Use the Cyrex 22 instead. This is very different to the breath test in that it is looking for antibodies to bacterial cytotoxins released in SIBO rather than the gases we produce. It also looks for evidence to see if the cytotoxins have caused a leaky gut. You can see more info on this sheet here.
Leaky Gut
In terms of leaky gut, a lot of the time you can assume it is present because of the case and just treat. If you have food sensitivity or autoimmunity, it’s practically a given. Testing leaky gut is surprisingly complex. There are several different markers and just because one says it is negative, it might well be that others could be positive. Of course, life would be simple if there was a test that looked at all the markers, but there isn’t yet.
The GI360 stool tests can be done including zonulin, a marker of attack on the tight junctions that keep the gut – and other – walls nice and strong. High zonulin shows a likely breached barrier. Or, even better, use the Advanced Intestinal Barrier Assessment, which also includes DAO and Histamine as well as LPS.
Stomach/H pylori
The first thing is to try the lemon/cider vinegar/bicarb or betaine tests – see here. You also want to see if you have any Helicobacter pylori, the very common cause of gastric issues and more besides. You can add H pylori onto the stool tests if they are not included, or you can do it separately as the H Pylori Antigen stool test.
GI360 Overview & Results Resources
Here is a full introduction to the GI360 and how to interpret your results when they come back. Plus a new Gut Test Guide on how to read and treat your results. I hope it helps!
Candida
Candida and yeasts are covered in the comprehensive tests above. Check the Candida Factsheet out here for more on this subject.
SIgA (Secretory IgA)
This is a measure of mucosal immunity (ie. in the gut, sinuses, vaginal areas etc). Put simply, if your SIgA level is too low, you will find it very difficult to fight off ‘baddies’ like yeasts and bacteria. You then need to work to raise your levels first. If your SIgA is too high, it suggests an acute problem somewhere – usually inflammation, infection or a sensitivity to something (eg. a food intolerance). You can read much more about SIgA in my SIgA factsheet here.
SIgA is measured in the stool tests and can be done via saliva. Both will give an idea of mucosal immune strength but they are quite localised. For respiratory, dental, upper tract conditions or candida in the mouth, salivary is good. For food intolerance or gut infections including candida, use stool.
SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)
Here is my video about SIBO testing – I did it on the Aero Diagnostics one originally but much of it holds true for any SIBO test:
There is also a new type of SIBO test from Cyrex now – Cyrex 22. This is very different to the breath test in that it is looking for antibodies to bacterial cytotoxins released in SIBO rather than the gases we produce. It also looks for evidence to see if the cytotoxins have caused a leaky gut. You can see more info on this sheet here.
Testing Tips…
Q: Why do you like the Doctors’ Data GI360 so much?
There are many gut tests. The reason I went for this one is that it is really comprehensive and uses PCR/DNA testing as well as MALDI-TOF analysis so you’re likely to find more ‘baddies’ if they’re there, plus a really useful raft of stool chemistry markers that allow me to see patterns causing eg. food sensitivity, or reasons for poor detoxification, why you can’t fight off infections well etc. It looks for actual fibres of veg and protein in the stool and includes a carbohydrate malabsorption check as well as fat. It also has lysozyme, a good inflammation marker the others don’t have (they all have inflammation markers but this is an extra in the Doctor’s Data version). It also includes occult blood (an important bowel cancer test) and a consistency check, which the others don’t. Bonus: it’s cheaper both to buy and to return to the lab.
Q: Why do you do a 3 day version? Can I do 1 or 2 days?
The reason I recommend three is that parasites hide and it is best to have a 3 day sample to give yourself the best chance of finding them. One tip: if you wish to make sure parasites are found, some practitioners suggest you ‘purge’ your bowel eg. using Vitamin C, magnesium or something from your health shop/pharmacist (not salt or castor oil) on the 3rd day so you get a ‘clear-out’ if you like. Then use that for your third day sample. Yum!
Q: Sadly, I don’t go to the loo that often. What if it takes me several days to get the three samples?
I asked the lab this for someone who was taking 9-10 days to get the three samples, which is about the limit really I would say. They advised: The samples need to be with us within 4 days of the LAST day – the chemistry tube (frozen) and the parasites (preservative) keep them viable. The culture tube on the last day is the most time sensitive.
Q: Any advice on stopping supplements etc?
For gut tests, my standard advice is to do the following unless you are monitoring yourself on them – please be led by your health professional and the specific instructions in your test kit/on the lab sites; these are my general tips:
Please make sure you stop taking any probiotics (bacteria eg. acidophilus) at least 5 days before doing the test.
For candida, stop any form of anti-fungal (eg caprylic acid, oregano, garlic etc) at least a week before. You should stop taking all anti-fungal supplements at least a week before you take your sample (e.g. caprylic acid, garlic capsules, grapefruit seed extract, oregano oil). Two days before you take your sample avoid fungi-food eg. camembert, brie, stilton, kefir, kombucha and stop taking any probiotics for 5 days before the sample is taken. Natural probiotic yoghurt is fine.
For parasites, stop taking any anti-parasitics at least a week before.
For the pancreatic function test, this will be affected by any pancreas meds and pancreatic enzyme products, including glandulars.
The SIgA and leaky gut tests will be affected by any supplements designed to assist them eg beta glucans, glutamine, saccharomyces boulardii, collagen etc, so stop these a few days before unless you are monitoring yourself on them.
Immune-suppressant medication may affect the inflammatory markers, specifically Calprotectin and Eosinophil-Protein X, though the labs cannot predict exactly how these medications may impact the test results. They say: “We never recommend patients discontinue medically prescribed medications in order to do testing. With regards to medicines in general, we cannot know for certain how long a specific dosage will impact test results. Patients on regular medications can continue during testing to see how they are impacting. However if the medication is temporary they may choose to wait until the medication course has been completed.” Wise words.