Comprehensive Stool Analysis & Parasitology
Quantifying your digestive function
Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are among the most common reasons that patients seek medical care. Symptoms associated with GI disorders include persistent diarrhea, constipation, bloating, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and malabsorption.
Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are among the most common reasons that patients seek medical care. Symptoms associated with GI disorders include persistent diarrhea, constipation, bloating, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and malabsorption.
Your stool is a window into your digestion
Cornerstones of good health include proper digestion of food, assimilation of nutrients, exclusion of pathogens and timely elimination of waste. To obtain benefits from food that is consumed, nutrients must be appropriately digested and then efficiently absorbed into portal circulation. Microbes, larger sized particles of fiber, and undigested foodstuffs should remain within the intestinal lumen.
Poor digestion and malabsorption of vital nutrients can contribute to degenerative diseases, compromised immune status, and nutritional deficiencies. Impairment of the highly specific nutrient uptake processes, or compromised GI barrier function (as in “leaky gut syndrome”) can result from a number of causes including: low gastric acid production, chronic maldigestion, food allergen impact on bowel absorptive surfaces, bacterial overgrowth or imbalances (dysbiosis), pathogenic bacteria, yeast or parasites and related toxic irritants, and the use of NSAID’s and antibiotics.
Impairment of intestinal functions can contribute to the development of food allergies, systemic illnesses, autoimmune disease, and toxic overload from substances that are usually kept in the confines of the bowel for elimination.
Efficient remediation of GI dysfunctions incorporates a comprehensive, guided approach that should include consideration of elimination of pathogens and exposure to irritants, supplementation of hydrochloric acid, pancreatic enzymes and pre-and probiotics, and repair of the mucosal barrier.
Testing your stool
Inflammation can significantly increase intestinal permeability and compromise assimilation of nutrients. The extent of inflammation, whether caused by pathogens or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can be assessed and monitored by examination of the levels of biomarkers such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, white blood cells and mucus.
These markers can be used to differentiate between inflammation associated with potentially life threatening inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which requires life-long treatment, and less severe inflammation that can be associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is frequently due to the presence of enteroinvasive pathogens.
Lactoferrin is only markedly elevated prior to and during the active phases of IBD, but not with IBS. Monitoring fecal lactoferrin levels in patients with IBD can therefore facilitate timely treatment of IBD, and the test can be ordered separately. Since the vast majority of secretory IgA (sigA) is normally present in the GI tract where it prevents binding of pathogens and antigens to the mucosal membrane, it is essential to know the status of sigA in the gut. sigA is the only bona fide marker of humoral immune status in the GI tract.
About the Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology
The Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology is an invaluable non-invasive diagnostic assessment that permits practitioners to objectively evaluate the status of the digestive function, beneficial and imbalanced commensal bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, yeast/fungus and parasites. Precise identification of pathogenic species and susceptibility testing greatly facilitates selection of the most appropriate pharmaceutical or natural treatment agents(s).
Important information regarding the efficiency of digestion and absorption can be gleaned from the measurement of the fecal levels of elastase (pancreatic exocrine sufficiency), fat, muscle and vegetable fibers, and carbohydrates.
Additional add-on tests available:
H. Pylori Antigen, C. Difficile Toxins A & B, Shiga Toxin(s), and Macroscopic examination.
How much does the Comprehensive Stool Analysis test cost?
Please contact the clinic for pricing information, or book a free 15-minute Meet-n-Greet call using the “Book an Appointment” button at the end of the page.
There are many variations of the stool analysis:
- Parasitology – The Parasitology profile includes testing by PCR and microscopy and can be performed on a one-, two- or three-day collection, based on practitioner preference. While parasitic infection may be an underlying etiological factor in several chronic disease processes, doctors often do not consider the potential for parasitic involvement because signs and symptoms of parasitic infection often resemble those of other diseases. However, it has been shown that parasite testing is a reasonable approach to the detection of causative agents for chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
- Culture, PCR + Parasitology – The CPP profile is an important tool for identifying imbalances in intestinal microflora. It includes comprehensive bacteriology and yeast cultures to identify the presence of beneficial flora, imbalanced flora including Clostridium species, and dysbiotic flora, as well as detection of infectious pathogens and parasites by PCR and other gold standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to prescriptive and natural agents is also performed for appropriate cultured bacterial and fungal species at no additional charge.
- Comprehensive Stool Analysis – Gastrointestinal complaints are among the most common in medical care. The CSA profile helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic systemic conditions, and measures key markers of digestion, absorption and inflammation. It contains comprehensive bacteriology and yeast cultures to identify the presence of beneficial flora, imbalanced flora including Clostridium species, and dysbiotic flora, as well as the detection of infectious pathogens by PCR and other gold standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to prescriptive and natural agents is also performed for appropriate cultured bacterial and fungal species at no additional charge.
- Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology – Gastrointestinal complaints are among the most common in medical care. The CSAP profile helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic systemic conditions, and measures key markers of digestion, absorption and inflammation. It contains comprehensive bacteriology and yeast cultures to identify the presence of beneficial flora, imbalanced flora including Clostridium species, and dysbiotic flora, as well as the detection of infectious pathogens and parasites by PCR and other gold standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to prescriptive and natural agents is also performed for appropriate cultured bacterial and fungal species at no additional charge. Parasitology testing can include one-, two- or three-day collection, based on practitioner preference.
No refunds or returns after 90 days of purchase.
Dr. Makoto Trotter, ND has a special interest in treating digestive disorders ranging from irritable bowel syndrome to inflammatory bowel disease. Consult with him to determine which test(s) are most indicated for your individual health condition, as well as to be assisted with natural treatment options to support your digestive health.
For a video by Dr. Makoto Trotter, ND describing this test and two other tests for digestive function, click here.
Book an appointment or contact Zentai Wellness Centre for further inquiries.