The GI-MAP® (Microbial Assay Plus), from Diagnostics Solutions Lab, is a comprehensive stool test that relies on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology to detect parasites, bacteria, H. pylori, yeast, fungi, and more by targeting the specific DNA of the organisms tested.
Besides pathogens, bacteria, viruses, yeast, parasites it also checks for intestinal markers for inflammation, digestion, and immune response such as Calprotectin, Anti-gliadin-IgA, Secretory IgA (SigA), beta-Glucuronidase, EDN & EPX proteins, Elastase-1, Steatocrit and Occult blood (FIT).
The GI-MAP® also has all the markers for H. pylori test including virulence factors & antibiotic resistance genes.
NEW! You can try Add-on markers for additional insights.
If you prefer to only check the microbiome, try Gut Microbiome Test.
Additionally, to understand stool chemistries and markers of indigestion, you can order a Comprehensive Stool Analysis (CSA) from Doctor's Data Lab.
The GI-MAP® Test is easy, fast, reliable, and requires just a few steps:
Order Online.
Receive The GI-MAP Test Kit And Collect Sample At Home.
Ship It Back For FREE To the CLIA Lab (US only).
Receive Secure, Confidential, & Easy-To-Understand Report Within 10-12 Business Days For This Comprehensive Stool Test.
The GI-MAP® was developed by Diagnostics Solutions Laboratories (DSL).
According to DSL, "the GI-MAP® (Microbial Assay Plus) is a comprehensive stool test that relies on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology to detect parasites, bacteria, H. pylori, fungi, and more by targeting the specific DNA of the organisms tested".
It is one of the popular stool tests that has the optimal balance of markers for microbiome (e.g., disease causing bugs) and intestinal health (e.g., those related to inflammation & autoimmunity).
If you're only interested in checking pathogens, try our other Gut Health Test.
The H. pylori bacteria and their virulence factors as well as related antibiotic resistance genes can be checked with the H. pylori Test.
This test measures the following:
Pathogens:
Bacterial: Campylobacter, C. difficile, E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella, V. cholerae, Y. enterocolitica.
Parasitic: Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia.
Viral pathogens: Adenovirus, Norovirus.
Commensal, Keystone Bacteria that are necessary for healthy gut:
Bacteroides fragilis, Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii & several species of Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Lactobacillus, Enterobacter & Roseburia.
Groups of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes & their ratio.
Opportunistic and Overgrowth Bacteria that are different forms that cause dysbiosis, overgrowth or are potential triggers of autoimmune diseases:
Dysbiotic and Overgrowth Bacteria: Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus & various species of Bacillus, Morganella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus.
Commensal Overgrowth Microbes from families of Desulfovibrio & Methanobacteriaceae.
Inflammatory & Autoimmune Related Bacteria
Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis & various species of Citrobacter, Klebsiella & Proteus.
Commensal species of Enterobacter, Escherichia, Fusobacterium & Prevotella.
Fungi & Yeast
Candida albicans & several other species of Candida, Geotrichum, Microsporidium & Rhodotorula.
Viruses
Cytomegalovirus & Epstein-Barr Virus.
Parasites:
Protozoa: Blastocystis hominis, Chilomastix mesnili, Dientamoeba fragilis, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Pentatrichomonas hominis & Cyclospora species.
Worms: Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura & Taenia.
H. Pylori:
Helicobacter pylori bacteria
8 different Virulence factors
13 different antibiotic resistance genes for Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, Fluoroquinolones & Tetracycline.
Here are a few optional Add-on markers available:
Zonulin: a marker of intestinal permeability and leaky gut. High levels are often due to dysbiosis, gluten sensitivity and inflammation. The increased spaces between cells from high Zonulin levels can allow ('leaking') toxins & pathogens into bloodstream from the intestine.
StoolOMX: includes bile acid test and a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) test with 25 bile acids (in concentrations, percents, ratios) and nine short chain fatty acids. Testing these gut metabolites may help in better understanding of gut functionality and underlying causes of IBS, IBD, bile acid diarrhea, altered motility, indigestion, the state of the microbiome, metabolic health, and much more.
Fecal Gluten Peptide (stool): This stool gluten test directly detects the presence of gluten peptide, providing objective evidence of recent gluten intake within the past two to four days. It detects 33‑mer gliadin peptide, the primary trigger for celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders in stool. This specific fragment of gliadin (the part that makes wheat dough sticky) is resistant to degradation and remains intact in the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike traditional gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance tests, which rely on symptoms or immune response, this stool gluten test directly detects gluten in stool and confirms recent ingestion.
Universal ARG (antibiotic resistance genes): Identifies 55 genetic elements associated with resistance to 10 different classes of antibiotics including
β-lactams
Fluoroquinolones
Vancomycin
Macrolides
Ciprofloxacin
5-Nitroimidazoles (non-Helicobacter pylori)
Trimethoprim
Sulfonamides
Methicillin
Chloramphenicol
Anyone with the following symptoms of gastroenteritis should check:
Chronic, serious gastrointestinal problems
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)
Suspected H. pylori and other bacterial, viral or fungal infections
Gut dysbiosis and intestinal permeability
Autoimmune diseases
Small intestinal bacterial growth (SIBO)
Please note that results may vary depending on several factors including immune health, digestive function and microbiome imbalance.
Most pathogens can be transitory, meaning symptoms may change over time. Also, depending on the virulence factors and your body's ability to handle them, same pathogens may have variable symptoms and outcomes.
Simply order the GI-MAP® Test kit, collect a stool sample at home and mail it back to Diagnostics Solutions Lab.
For orders within US, a prepaid return envelope is included. For orders outside US, we generally pay for shipping to your address and provide the paperwork for cross-border shipping.
The kit will provide clear instructions and sample collection supplies that are easy to use (gloves, paper tray, sample collection tube, biohazard bag, return envelope).
The stool sample is valid for about 7-10 days.
Once collected, it should be mailed immediately to avoid any delays. Store in a refrigerator until shipping but NEVER freeze the sample.
You will receive a lab report that you can share with your doctor. It will also include a few pages from the interpretation guide for most critical markers.
Many customers say GI-MAP® is how they test for leaky gut health at home, and generally it is fairly easy with such a stool sample.
Learn more about Leaky Gut from Harvard Health here.
The National Institute of Health suggests eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep gut health in check.
A: Except New York and New Jersey our tests are available in all 48 states. State regulations in NY, NJ do not allow us to ship the test kits to their residents and the lab doesn't accept samples from them.
A: The GI-MAP® Test kit contains stool collection supplies, instructions on how to collect the samples, and a form requesting basic information including date and time of collection. The directions are straight forward and easy to follow.
A: You will receive the kit within about 3-5 business days with a USPS First Class Prepaid return envelope. For faster shipping, you can choose USPS Priority Mail.
After you mail the sample and it is received by our lab, you get the results within 10-12 business days (this test takes longer due to a large number of markers tested using several different techniques over a few days).
A: The report with your test results & interpretation will be easy to understand and will have many necessary details. It will mark whether you are negative or positive for any of the bacteria, viruses or fungi and what are their levels. The report breaks down different segments into pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, yeast/mold, helpful bacteria and lists the markers of intestinal health such as those related to inflammation, autoimmune diseases, etc.
It will specify what are the expected low and high ranges. The report will also include several pages explaining the markers in an easy-to-read language. The detailed report and instructions is how to test for leaky gut from home.
A: You can use HSA (or FSA/MSA/HRA) accounts to pay for the tests since these are prescription tests (for further confirmation, please check the IRS publication#969). However, please ensure you are not going outside your specified max and min deductible limits. We do not have the capability to process the insurance claim. Since insurance plans vary for individuals we can not guarantee your HSA payment will always be processed by your plan. We suggest talking to your insurance provider if you have any questions.
A: Measuring leaky gut and microbiome is an emerging field. The test quantifies bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites using qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) technique. PCR is what your COVID-19 lab tests used, but they often only provide yes or no answers. qPCR allows to measure exact amount of DNA with much better detection for smaller volume.
In that way, qPCR is a leap forward from older methodologies that report only positive or negative.
Results are reported as colony forming units per gram of stool (CFU/g). One CFU is roughly equivalent to one microorganism (or one cell). Results are expressed in standard scientific notation. A reported result of 3.5e7 is equivalent to 3.5 x 10^7CFU/g, which equals 35,000,000 CFU/g, or 35 million CFU per gram of stool.
Reference ranges for the each markers were developed by Diagnostics Solutions Laboratory using known positive, diseased samples to construct cut off values that distinguish disease-causing amounts of pathogenic and opportunistic microbes. Reference ranges for the pathogens were correlated with an FDA cleared assay for GI pathogens. This GI-MAP® Test is capable of detecting as low as 0.1 cell per gram of stool.
To minimize any variations in your results, we have partnered with CLIA-certified labs that are regulated by the states, as well as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Many tests from these labs are FDA approved to ensure they meet the proper regulatory requirements. Additionally, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) requires inter-laboratory tests to ensure the ranges established by each lab do not drift or are not out of acceptable ranges. This is done by regularly testing reference samples between different labs. Finally, the labs test thousands of samples for different age groups and health conditions, and have well established reference data to compare your results against this large pool.
A: Unfortunately, no. As a lab test provider we can only test and report out data from your sample. We are not authorized to provide any medical recommendations. But we strongly encourage you to discuss the results with your doctor for next steps.
The GI-MAP® Test is a simple first step in understanding your intestinal health. This popular at home leaky gut test kit might help understand your symptoms before the need to see an expert.
Long term presence of pathogens, bacteria, viruses, molds, fungi and yeast can manifest into serious health issues. Abdomen pain, constipation, bloating, flatulence are commonly observed due to unhealthy abdomen. The GI-MAP® Test is an easy first step in understanding how your body is managing them and what lifestyle changes might be necessary to maintain a healthy gut.
For those struggling with gut health issues the GI-MAP® Test is a great way to check the root cause of their symptoms.
Checking your gut markers is a great way to learn about diet and food that’s resulting in leaky gut.
As better health results in better quality of life, and many problems start in the gut, the GI-MAP® Test can be a great first step in improving your quality of life.
No lab visits or doctor appointments
A comprehensive stool DNA test
World class CLIA-certified lab
Physician reviewed results
Fast, secure, and confidential reports
Free shipping (& free return shipping within US)
Qualifies for payment using HSA/FSA
Still wondering why to order a GI-MAP® Test?
Each at home test kit from RxHomeTest.com includes a prescription and detailed review of the results by one of our physicians at no extra cost. And shipping is FREE (plus free return shipping within US).
RxHomeTest.com processes your sample at the same CLIA-certified labs that doctors use. So rest assured your tests are being processed in a world class lab.
RxHomeTest.com offers convenient, confidential, and reliable results at one of the lowest prices. And we also offer a wide range of health tests.
You can order at home test kit online, without requiring a doctor’s visit or prescription, thus saving time and money. You do not need to take any time off for lab visits which makes the the test very affordable.
Our leaky gut test is more convenient than a blood test or serum cortisol test as you don’t need to draw any blood using needles.
