• Digestive discomfort: bloating, gas, abdominal pain or irregular bowel habits.
• Chronic or acute diarrhoea: loose stools, urgency or diarrhoea following illness or travel.
• IBS or IBD: ongoing digestive symptoms where microbiome patterns may be relevant.
• Food sensitivities: digestive or systemic reactions suspected to relate to microbial imbalance.
• Unexplained fatigue: tiredness potentially linked with gut-related factors under review.
• Joint discomfort: intermittent stiffness or pain sometimes observed alongside gut symptoms.
• Recurrent infections: individuals with frequent immune challenges where gut health is being explored.
• Nutritional deficiencies: suboptimal nutrient status possibly associated with malabsorption patterns.
• Mucosal barrier concerns: practitioners assessing potential disruption of gut lining integrity.
• Fever, nausea or vomiting of unclear origin: when gastrointestinal pathogens are a consideration.

Overview

The GI360 Essentials (1-day) test combines multiplex PCR, culture, MALDI-TOF identification, microscopy and biochemical assays to evaluate a single stool sample for pathogenic organisms, parasites, viral targets and core microbiome indicators. The profile includes analysis of microbial abundance and diversity across key bacterial phyla.

This assessment may be clinically useful when exploring persistent digestive concerns, suspected infections, microbiome imbalance or digestive symptoms that appear to relate to microbial factors. Although a single-day sample provides a snapshot rather than a multi-day view, it still offers detailed insight into microbial composition, dysbiosis patterns and potential pathogenic organisms.

Practitioners typically interpret GI360 Essentials findings alongside clinical history, diet, symptom patterns and lifestyle influences. When used in this way, the test can support discussions about gut ecology, digestive function, potential triggers and practical next steps.

Practical

Practical

Specimen requirements:

Stool

1 day collection 

No Call / Inhibited
In certain circumstances, stool samples may not yield results for a limited section of viruses, pathogenic bacteria and parasites [known as : No Call / Inhibited]. Statistically this can affect approximately 6% of tests.
Many factors contribute to this issue including diet, medication, supplements, and competing DNA. Excessive calcium, tannic acid, bile salts, haemoglobin, melanin, collagen, urea, degradation products, complex polysaccharides and polyphenolic substances have also been found to cause inhibition.Test reports affected are not considered to be defective and thus are not eligible for cancellation or refunds.
Resubmission of the a supplementary sample to attempt analysis can be accommodated with billable costs limited to supply and return shipping.
By ordering this test, you accept the conditions and risks explained here.

Also available as 2 and 3 day collection.

Average processing time:

21 days

Available add-ons:

Zonulin

Age Considerations:

The PCR Microbiome section (only) may best be served for those ages 2 and above due to variations in the microbiome in ages 0-2.

Research

Research

• Aasbrenn M, Valeur J, Farup PG. Evaluation of a faecal dysbiosis test for irritable bowel syndrome in subjects with and without obesity. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation. 2017;78(1-2):109-113. DOI: 10.1080/00365513.2017.1419372

• Andréasson K, Alrawi Z, Persson A, Jönsson G, Marsal J. Intestinal dysbiosis is common in systemic sclerosis and associated with gastrointestinal and extraintestinal features of disease. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2016;18(1). DOI: 10.1186/s13075-016-1182-z

• Bennet SMP, Böhn L, Störsrud S, et al. Multivariate modelling of faecal bacterial profiles of patients with IBS predicts responsiveness to a diet low in FODMAPs. Gut. 2017;67(5):872-881. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-313128

• Casén C, Vebø HC, Sekelja M, et al. Deviations in human gut microbiota: a novel diagnostic test for determining dysbiosis in patients with IBS or IBD. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2015;42(1):71-83. DOI: 10.1111/apt.13236

• Farup PG, Aasbrenn M, Valeur J. Separating “good” from “bad” faecal dysbiosis – evidence from two cross-sectional studies. BMC Obesity. 2018;5(1). DOI: 10.1186/s40608-018-0207-3

• Farup P, Valeur J. Faecal Microbial Markers and Psychobiological Disorders in Subjects with Morbid Obesity. A Cross-Sectional Study. Behavioral Sciences. 2018;8(10):89. DOI: 10.3390/bs8100089

• Magnusson MK, Strid H, Sapnara M, et al. Anti-TNF Therapy Response in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis Is Associated with Colonic Antimicrobial Peptide Expression and Microbiota Composition. Journal of Crohns and Colitis. 2016;10(8):943-952. DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw051

• Magnusson MK, Strid H, Isaksson S, Simrén M, Öhman L. The Mucosal Antibacterial Response Profile and Fecal Microbiota Composition Are Linked to the Disease Course in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 2017;23(6):956-966. DOI: 10.1097/mib.0000000000001130

• Mazzawi T, Lied GA, Sangnes DA, et al. The kinetics of gut microbial community composition in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following fecal microbiota transplantation. Plos One. 2018;13(11). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194904

• Olbjørn C, Småstuen MC, Thiis-Evensen E, et al. Fecal microbiota profiles in treatment-naïve pediatric inflammatory bowel disease – associations with disease phenotype, treatment, and outcome. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology. 2019;Volume 12:37-49. DOI: 10.2147/ceg.s186235

• Thorkildsen LT, Nwosu FC, Avershina E, et al. Dominant Fecal Microbiota in Newly Diagnosed Untreated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. 2013;2013:1-13. DOI: 10.1155/2013/636785

• Valeur J, Småstuen MC, Knudsen T, Lied GA, Røseth AG. Exploring Gut Microbiota Composition as an Indicator of Clinical Response to Dietary FODMAP Restriction in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2018;63(2):429-436. DOI: 10.1007/s10620-017-4893-3

• Vebø HC, Sekelja M, Nestestog R, et al. Temporal Development of the Infant Gut Microbiota in Immunoglobulin E-Sensitized and Nonsensitized Children Determined by the GA-Map Infant Array. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. 2011;18(8):1326-1335. DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00062-11