In ADDITION to your lab report we provide the following options which are INCLUDED in the package prices:

A) Follow up personalised written report produced by our clinical team highlighting dietary and lifestyle advice plus links to supplement protocols, specific doses and any further testing requirements included. We use the patient information you provide us at checkout along with your results to compile personalised action points for you.

OR

B) Follow up 30-minute video call to discuss your results and answer any questions you have. Once the lab has completed your results you will be sent these via email with a link to book a time and day online. You will also then be given the option to upgrade your 30-minute call to a 45-minute call for an additional £30 if you wish. During the call your practitioner will explain the results in more detail and what they mean for you. After your call you are sent a personalised list of supplements & the dose your practitioner advises with links to purchase from our supplements store. This is for your convenience. You are of course welcome to purchase supplements elsewhere. You will also be provided with a list of follow up tests should this be required plus a copy of your recorded zoom call which you can download and keep.

OR

C) Both Zoom call and written report with personalised next steps (Zoom call is first and written report follows).

This stool collection kit is posted to you via DHL, with instructions for use at home. You can arrange for DHL to collect your sample using freepost returns. If you are ordering from outside the UK we will ship via DHL with return labels. Your sample is sent to the USA for testing with Doctors Data Labs so results take 3 weeks.

This profile is indicated for gastrointestinal symptoms, autoimmune disease, joint pain, IBD, IBS, inflammation, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies and skin conditions. When testing budget is limited, and parasitic infection is not suspected, this provides a lower price point than our most comprehensive gut health test - the GI360.

• GI Pathogens measured by multiplex PCR.
• Culturing of commensal and pathogenic bacteria and yeast
• Elastase and Calprotectin - Turbidimetric Immunoassay
• Lactoferrin, Lysozyme, sIgA - Elisa
• Carbohydrates – Colormetric
• Fat Stain – Sudan IV
• SCFA – Gas Chromatography
• Beta Glucuronidase - Quantitative endpoint enzymatic (RUO)
• Occult Blood – Guaiac
• Stool pH - ISE

The test evaluates gut health across several clinical categories. The full list of reported markers is:

• Bacteriology culture (aerobic) — identifies beneficial, commensal, and pathogenic bacteria
• Additional pathogens culture — with a pharmaceutical and natural agent sensitivity panel provided when pathogens are detected
• Yeast culture — screens for Candida and other fungal overgrowth
• GI pathogens — detected by multiplex PCR for rapid, accurate identification
• Calprotectin — a marker of intestinal inflammation, useful for differentiating IBD from IBS
• Lactoferrin — indicates neutrophil-driven inflammation in the gut lining
• Lysozyme — reflects innate immune activity in the gastrointestinal tract
• Secretory IgA (sIgA) — measures the humoral immune status of the gut
• Elastase — assesses pancreatic exocrine function and digestive enzyme output
• Short-chain fatty acids (Acetate, Butyrate, Proprionate, Valerate) — reflect overall microbiome balance and fermentation activity
• Fat stain — evaluates fat malabsorption
• Carbohydrates — assesses carbohydrate malabsorption
• Muscle Fibers and Vegetable fibers — indicate protein and plant digestion efficiency
• Occult blood — screens for hidden blood in the stool
• Red blood cells and White blood cells — microscopic indicators of bleeding or active infection
• Mucus — may suggest irritation or inflammation of the intestinal lining
• pH — reflects fermentation patterns and overall gut environment

This test is suitable for anyone aged 2 years and over who needs a thorough investigation of gut function and microbial balance. It is particularly relevant if you experience:

• Persistent bloating, gas, abdominal pain, or irregular bowel habits
• A diagnosis or suspicion of IBS that has not improved with standard dietary changes
• Suspected yeast or Candida overgrowth — sugar cravings, oral thrush, or recurrent fungal issues
• Chronic fatigue or nutritional deficiencies that may be linked to poor gut absorption
• Autoimmune conditions where intestinal permeability or dysbiosis may be a contributing factor
• Joint pain, skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne), or food sensitivities that you suspect are connected to gut health
• A need to differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome using objective inflammatory markers

When parasitic infection is a primary concern, the clinic recommends the more comprehensive GI360 Complete profile, which includes dedicated parasite and worm detection alongside the microbial and digestive markers.

A routine NHS stool test typically screens for a limited number of bacterial pathogens (such as Salmonella or Campylobacter) and may include a calprotectin reading if specifically requested. It does not profile the broader bacterial community, assess yeast levels, measure digestive enzyme output, quantify short-chain fatty acids, or test gut immune markers like secretory IgA. The Doctors Data Comprehensive Stool Analysis combines PCR pathogen detection, aerobic culture with a sensitivity panel, three separate inflammatory markers (calprotectin, lactoferrin, lysozyme), fat and carbohydrate malabsorption indicators, and a full short-chain fatty acid profile — providing a far more detailed picture of what is happening in the gut and why symptoms may be occurring.

Your collection kit is posted to you via DHL and includes full written instructions, collection containers, and a prepaid return label for UK orders. You collect your sample at home following the step-by-step guide provided, then arrange for DHL to collect the package or drop it at a DHL service point. Detailed preparation guidance — including any dietary or supplement considerations before collection — can be found in the instruction PDF included with your kit. International orders are also shipped and returned via DHL, though return postage arrangements may differ by country.

If the culture portion of the test identifies pathogenic bacteria or yeast, the laboratory automatically runs a sensitivity panel against that organism. This panel tests how effectively a range of pharmaceutical antibiotics or antifungals — and, importantly, natural antimicrobial agents — inhibit the growth of the pathogen in vitro. The result allows your practitioner to select a targeted treatment strategy based on what is actually likely to work against your specific infection, rather than prescribing a broad-spectrum antibiotic or antifungal empirically. This is particularly valuable for patients who have already tried standard treatments without lasting improvement, or who prefer to explore natural antimicrobial options where clinically appropriate.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) — specifically acetate, butyrate, proprionate, and valerate — are produced when beneficial gut bacteria ferment dietary fibre. Butyrate in particular is a primary fuel source for the cells lining the colon and plays a central role in maintaining gut barrier integrity, reducing inflammation, and supporting immune regulation. Low SCFA levels can indicate reduced microbial diversity, insufficient fibre intake, or an imbalance in the bacterial community. Elevated levels of certain SCFAs relative to others may point to fermentation patterns associated with bloating and gas. By including a full SCFA profile, this test gives practitioners insight into the functional output of your microbiome — not just which organisms are present, but how well they are performing.

Both tests are processed by Doctors Data and share a core set of microbial, digestive, and inflammatory markers. The key difference is scope: the GI360 Complete adds dedicated molecular detection of parasites and worms, a broader PCR pathogen panel, and additional markers including zonulin (a marker of intestinal permeability) and H. pylori antigen. The Comprehensive Stool Analysis is the appropriate choice when parasitic infection is not a primary concern and a slightly lower price point is preferred, while the GI360 is recommended when a more exhaustive investigation — including parasitology and gut permeability — is needed. Your practitioner can advise which profile best fits your clinical picture.

Yes — this test ships worldwide via DHL. For most countries you can simply select your location at checkout. If you are based in Australia, Bahrain, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, or the USA, you will need to contact the clinic for a shipping quote before placing your order. UK orders include freepost DHL return labels; international return arrangements may vary, so check your kit instructions for details specific to your country.

Depending on your symptoms and results, your practitioner may suggest additional testing to build a more complete clinical picture:

• If yeast overgrowth is confirmed or suspected — a dedicated Candida stool test and oral swab can provide further detail on the species and load present
• If inflammation markers are elevated and histamine reactivity is a concern — the Histamine / DAO full blood test assesses whether histamine metabolism is contributing to your symptoms
• If gut-driven inflammation appears to be affecting the whole body — a standalone Calprotectin and Lysozyme test can be used for follow-up monitoring after treatment
• If parasitic infection is suspected after all — the dedicated Parasites Stool Test or the full GI360 Complete profile provides comprehensive parasitology

Combining gut testing with broader functional investigations — such as food intolerance panels or organic acid testing — is common in functional medicine practice and can be discussed at your consultation.