The prevalence of gastrointestinal complaints in general practice is rather impressive. Although many of these complaints are vague, the longterm clinical consequences of untreated complaints seems to be impaired assimilation with reduced regenerative capacity and in-creased rate of aging. The causes of these complaints are ferreted out and investigated in the GI Health Panels.™ The GI Health Panel™ is a 15 or 22 conjoint parameter analysis (refer to Test Listing) intended to evaluate gastrointestinal function and health non-invasively. The panel employs three stool and two saliva specimens.

Four Underlying Causes of Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
Pathogen associated GI complaints caused by:
Parasitic Infestations
Yeast Overgrowth
Fungal Infections
Normal Flora Imbalances
Bacterial Overgrowth/Infections
Neuroenteric related complaints (not part of panel) caused by:
Dystonia of GI smooth muscle
Dysrhythmia of GI smooth muscle
Sympathetic to parasympathetic imbalance
Non pathogen related GI complaints caused by:
Acquired or genetically determined functional and structural GI complaints
External Stressors:
Dietary intolerances & allergies
Environmental factors
Pharmacological factors
Use the GI Panels™ to increase diagnostic accuracy & therapeutic success

Parasites-Underestimated Health Burden
The pathogen associated aspect of GI complaints is gaining increased recognition as evidenced by the U.S. based statistics shown below. More recently, several zoopathogens have emerged as threats to human health, including Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Babesia, Borrelia, Microsporidia...etc.

Table 1. Parasite Infestation Statistics
Clostridium difficile 5% of Population or 13 million people
Giardia lamblia 7.2% Population Extrapolated- 19 million
Entamoeba coli 4.2% Population Extrapolated- 11 million
Endolimax nana 4.2% Population Extrapolated- 11 million
Toxoplasma gondii 50-60% Population Extrapolated- 110 million
Blastocystis hominis 2.6% Population Extrapolated- 7 million

More Saliva Tests
For Better Detection of Parasites & Food Intolerance
Roundworm Detection:
The roundworm ascaris lumbricoides is the most common worm infection worldwide. It is more concentrated in warm, moist climates (southeastern U.S.) and on swine farms or where pig feces are used as fertilizer. Humans acquire it by swallowing eggs from contaminated soil, water, fruits or vegetables and in children through the fecal-oral route. Clinically, it causes coughing and difficulty breathing that subsides only to be followed by abdominal discomfort / pain. A common finding is malnutrition, especially in children. Microscopic egg detection is elusive because the time required from egg ingestion to shedding in stool is 2-3 months. The saliva based SIgA test enhances detection of this worm.
Tissue worm Detection:
Trichinella spiralis is a tissue worm of swine. Humans acquire the infection by ingesting the larvae from undercooked pork. The parasite re-sides mainly in skeletal muscle causing long standing inflammation and fibromyalgia. With poor meat handling and cooking habits this infection is becoming more widespread. Saliva SIgA detection is used as the basis of our trichinella detection.
Toxoplasma Detection:
A chronic tissue parasite infestation, affecting 50-60% of the U.S. Population. It is mostly acquired from contact with cat litter, secretions and the consumption of undercooked meat. This organism forms cysts in human tissue, including the brain and muscle. Immune suppression can lead to the release of the active tachyzoites from the cysts causing symptomatic exacerbations. Asymptomatic individuals may experience a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities. Saliva samples are used to detect toxoplasma secretory antibodies.
Tapeworm Detection:
Swine tapeworm (Taenia solium) infections are worldwide and concentrated in countries where pork is consumed and sanitation is poor. The human harbors the adult worm which is 6-20 feet long and inhabits the small intestine. The head is armed with about 22-32 hooks and the worm sheds 250,000 or more eggs a day. When the pig consumes the eggs from human feces (ex. sewage fertilizer), the eggs partially mature into the intermediate form, the cysticercus, which infects the muscle and brains of swine. Humans consuming infected undercooked pork, or eating food contaminated with infested human feces can develop intestinal tapeworm and/or tissue migrating tapeworm Larvae (cysticercosis). Muscles and the brain are a favorite site of larval hatching. Myositis, fibromyalgia and CNS related problems are common clinical manifestations. Saliva SIgA is used for detection.

Food Intolerance Testing:
Analyzes the antigen specific Secretory IgA in saliva to detect genetically inherited food intolerances to Wheat (gluten), Cow's milk (casein), Eggs (ovalbumin) and Soy protein. These predisposed individuals usually experience intestinal inflammation after consumption of the offending foods. Subsequently, the intestinal mucosa releases Secretory IgA to neutralize the antigens. SIgA testing, unlike IgG, allows detection of mild, subclinical, and latent intolerance cases. Furthermore, the short SIgA half-life insures earlier and more effective compliance/follow up assessments.
Case studies
Case Study One (Missed Diagnosis)
Background
Patient had mild discomfort in left abdomen with some irregular bowel movements. Patient had a stool exam at another laboratory. Results showed normal values with a so called mild "dysbiosis." Patient was treated with herbs and lactobacilli, six months later patient consults another physician for same problem. A GI Health Panel™ was ordered from Diagnos-Techs.

Findings:
Elevated Lysozyme - Colon inflammation marker
Occult blood - Positive
Our laboratory recommended endoscopy due to lysozyme increase. Patient had a colonic tumor (CA) the size of an orange. Surgery was required.
Case Study Two (Wrong Diagnosis)
Background
A 28 year old male had mild abdominal discomfort and fragmented stools. Patient had a stool analysis at another laboratory which showed alleged "dysbiosis" with some citrobacter spp. and reduced content of short chain fatty (SCF) acids in stool. He was treated with antibiotics over six years and still had symptoms in spite of citrobacter elimination. The SCF acids reverted to normal. Patient sought help at another clinic. A GI Health Panel™ with a transit retention time capsule was ordered.

Findings:
Clostridium Antigen positive
A reduced transit time of 8 hours, normally 20-28 hours
Elevated ACHY
C. difficile was treated with tinidazole for 7 days. Transit time was normalized with 1/3 tablet Loperamide. Elevated ACHY which indicated small intestine irritation was rectified using a gooseberry paste (AmlaPaste™) for 30 days. Follow up - all parameters within range and no symptoms.

Clinical Indications
The GI Health Panel™ is worth considering for:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Chronic loose stool or constipation
Fat, grain, and food intolerance
School & pool associated GI problems
Chronic abdominal discomfort/pain
Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
Excessive eating pattern/Anorexia
Post travel loose stool/diarrhea
Sudden changes in bowel habits
Bloating, maldigestion, heartburn
Excess gas and flatulence
Chronic skin conditions
Hyperactivity
Poor sleeping habits

GI Health Panel™ & Expanded GI Health Panel™
(test listing)

Food Intolerance (saliva)
Gluten/grain
Cow milk*
Egg protein*
Soy protein*

Parasite Tests (saliva)
Amoeba
H. pylori
Toxoplasma*
Tissue worm-Trichinella*
Roundworm-Ascaris*
Tapeworm-T. solium*

Parasite Tests (stool)
Giardia
Cryptosporidium
Clostridium difficile

O&P Microscopy (stool)
Wet mounts
General Stain
Special Stain
+We report all visualized parasites.
Functional Markers (stool)
GI immunity-SIgA
Alpha Anti-chymotrypsin (ACHY)
Lysozyme
Chymotrypsin
Occult Blood
Fecal pH

Cultures (stool)
Yeast, fungal
Pathogen & flora cultures

*In Expanded GI Health Panel™ only.
Why choose Diagnos-Techs?

Wider Scope: Our 15 to 22 parameter GI Health Panels™ are the most logical, complete and economical profiles offered anywhere in the nation. Our integrated approach using 22 conjoint parameters allows diagnostic investigation of infectious-parasitic, inflammatory, digestive, immune and dietary related causes of GI complaints. Multi-faceted Interpretive Support: DTI provides you with a concise GI knowledge base presented in the form of a monograph. In addition, our medical and technical staff are available for patient-specific interpretation of results.

Some GI test comparisons- Diagnos-Techs vs the Competition

WIDE-RANGE PARASITIC DETECTION:
DTI:
Some parasites are elusive by nature (organism fragmented in stool sample; only intracellular presence; not in shedding phase…) making them impossible to visualize even with advanced staining techniques. DTI circumvents these limitations by assem-bling a slate of parasitic antigen and antibody detection tests (Giardia, Toxoplasma, Ameba, Ascaris, Cryptosporidium, Trichinella, Tapeworm etc.).

Other:
The competition offers you a purge which, besides its traumatic effects on patients, will burst many parasites precluding the ability to visualize them microscopically. Many companies use immunofluorescence slide visualization for parasite detection which requires presence of intact organisms. Many parasites are missed by only using microscopic visualization techniques.

TOXOPLASMA, TRICHINELLA, ASCARIS & TAPEWORM:
DTI:
New DTI tests that widen your perspective on chronic illnesses and parasitic infections.

Other:
The competition does not test for these parasites.
Note: Tissue parasites are not self-limiting & will persist indefinitely without treatment.

MICROFLORA EVALUATION/PATHOGEN DETECTION:
DTI:
The colonic microflora is comprised of over 500 species of bacteria. DTI globally assesses the normal gut flora and will speciate the overgrowth / pathogenic bacteria and yeast.
Our panels routinely include reflex sensitivity testing for relevant bacterial pathogens. DTI dropped all yeast sensitivity testing a long time ago due to lack of correlation with clinical efficacy of substances.
Other:
Other laboratories presume that a partial non-quantitative evaluation of 1-2% of the microflora species, allows them to make general statements such as "Dysbiosis". This unscientific reporting ignores the important quantitative relationships between the climax communities and underestimates the role of a majority of non tested species.
In vitro yeast sensitivity testing does not correlate with clinical efficacy of antimicro-bials tested. A natural / herbal product may show inhibition to specific yeast in a Petri dish at a certain concentration. However, this does not imply that the ingested herb will achieve comparable concentrations in the actual tissue sites infected by the yeast.

FOOD INTOLERANCE & ALLERGIES:
DTI:
We test for the constitutional intolerances to grain, soy, egg and milk proteins using antigen-specific Secretory IgA. Intolerant patients experience a toxic reaction when the food in question is consumed. This reaction will trigger an inflammatory / immune response leading to SIgA production. SIgA, unlike IgG, has a short memory of several weeks, allowing you to monitor compliance within 60 days of treatment.

Other:
Other labs do not include food intolerance tests in their GI panels.

Note: Serum IgG is an invalid way of testing for food intolerance; the fact that a patient has a positive response to a food item does not mean that there is an accompanying GI reaction or toxicity. Many patients show an IgG response to foods they have never eaten or come into contact within their lifetime. Clinically, patients may not experience any difference after avoiding the foods in question.

DIGESTIVE CAPACITY/MALABSORPTION
DTI:
We test for Chymotrypsin, a reliable marker for all digestive enzymes from the pancreas. We also test for occult blood and fecal pH. We do not quantitate any short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in stool.

Other:
SCFA'S are end-products of bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber. The relative SCFA stool composition depends on diet choice, transit time, and the actual gut flora of a specific individual. Published papers show that random stool SCFA is a poor marker of GI health or colonic cancer risk.

MUCOSAL IMMUNITY & OTHER MARKERS:
DTI:
Our panel includes parameters of mucosal immunity, colonic inflammation and small intestinal irritation which help diagnose and localize the site of GI problems (colon vs. small intestine). The panel results allow you to detect insults to the gut.

Other:
Other labs do not offer any gut immunity and inflammation markers. The leaky gut test they offer is only symptom/condition detection without examining the causative factors that include inflammation, foreign organisms, offensive foods…. DTI avoids diagnosing a symptom without reporting on the causes.