12-Hour Fasting Required: NO
CPT Codes for this test: see below
Testing Lab: Doctor's Data
Doctor's Data information for this test:
Gastrointestinal complaints are among the most common in medical care.
This comprehensive profile helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal
symptoms and chronic systemic conditions, and measures key markers of
digestion, absorption and inflammation. Using growth-based culture, the
standard of practice in clinical microbiology, as well as sensitive
biochemical assays and microscopy, this thorough stool test evaluates
the status of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms including aerobic
and anaerobic bacteria, yeast and parasites. Antimicrobial
susceptibility testing to prescriptive and natural agents is also
performed for appropriate bacterial and fungal species at no additional
charge. Parasitology stool testing includes three-day collection.
Turnaround Time:
6 to 8 days
Analytes Tested (with CPT code when available):
82542 - Acetate; stool
87046 - Additional pathogens culture; stool
87045 - Bacteriology culture, aerobic; stool
82542 - Butyrate; stool
83993 - Calprotectin; stool
Carbohydrates; stool (no CPT code)
87328 - Cryptosporidium; stool
87209 - Day 2 Parasitology, trichrome; stool
87209 - Day 3 Parasitology, trichrome; stool
82656 - Elastase; stool
89125 - Fat Stain; stool
87329 - Giardia lamblia; stool
83631 - Lactoferrin; stool
85549 - Lysozyme; stool
Mucus; stool (no CPT code)
89160 - Muscle Fibers; stool
82272 - Occult Blood; stool
87177 - Parasitology, concentrate; stool
87209 - Parasitology, trichrome; stool
82542 - Propionate; stool
Red Blood Cells; stool (no CPT code)
82542 - Valerate; stool
89160 - Vegetable Fibers; stool
White Blood Cells; stool (no CPT code)
87102 - Yeast culture; stool
83986 - pH; stool
82784 - sIgA; stool
This test include the H. Pylori add-on
This test is useful for:
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Autoimmune Disease
IBD/IBS
Inflammation
Food Sensitivities
Nutritional Deficiencies
Joint Pain
Detailed Information:
The Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology x3 is an invaluable
non-invasive diagnostic assessment that permits practitioners to
objectively evaluate the status of 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.
Important information regarding the efficiency of digestion and
absorption can be gleaned from the measurement of the fecal levels of
pancreatic elastase (pancreatic exocrine sufficiency), fat, muscle and
vegetable fibers, and carbohydrates. 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 lifelong 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 through stool
testing. sIgA is the only bona fide marker of humoral immune status in
the GI tract.
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
The use of NSAIDs 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. After performing a stool test, 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.
