GI-MAP | GI Microbial Assay Plus
The GI-MAP® (GI-Microbial Assay Plus) quantitatively assesses a patient’s microbiome with attention to bacterial, parasitic, and viral pathogens that can cause disease, disrupt the normal microbial balance, and contribute to chronic GI illness. Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory utilizes proven qPCR technology with high sensitivity and specificity to provide quantitative, accurate, and reliable results.
Other Fucntional Test Options
- Pathogens Panel – Stool
- GenomicInsight – Genomic Health Profile
- OMX – Organic Metabolomics (Urine Only)
- Organic Acids Profile (Urine Only)
- IgG Food Explorer
- IgE Allergy Explorer
I will get the kit sent to you for free. When sending in your sample you must include a $189 dollar deposit with your sample.
If your insurance accepts the claim, you will be refunded your depost. If they deny your claim, they will bill you the difference for the total price of the test - whch is $389.00. You become responsible for this total price.
If your insurrance denies your claim and you pay full cash price for the test, I may be able to work with you to help create you a potential SuperBill, depending on your current health conditions and if I as a dietitian, can legally help you. A SuperBill is what you submit to your insurrance asking for reimbursement for a service you paid cash for.
NOTE: this SuperBill service is a patient by patient basis and has many factors, but I am willing to help where I can!
Why Is Quantification Using qPCR Technology So Imp
Unlike other comprehensive stool tests on the market, the GI-MAP can provide practitioners with truly quantitative results. qPCR offers a much more accurate way to detect and quantify clinically-relevant organisms than standard PCR, culture, microscopy, or DNA sequencing-based methods. Accurately assessing how much of an organism's DNA is present in a patient's stool sample is essential for helping practitioners to determine the clinical significance of pathogenic organisms and dysbiosis patterns.
qPCR Use in Clinical Research
Although qPCR is becoming more commonplace in in-vitro diagnostics (IVD), we are the only laboratory in the United States exclusively using qPCR technology for advanced comprehensive stool testing. This technology is used routinely in clinical and academic research because it provides highly-accurate quantification, as well as high levels of sensitivity and specificity. Standard PCR technology doesn't offer the same level of sensitivity, or the ability to express precise numerical results.
The GI-MAP also provides consistently reproducible results. Reproducibility is of crucial importance to the practitioners and patients that rely on the efficacy of the GI-MAP. To achieve it, we perform rigorous quality control, and have validated all molecular target quantification assays to meet or exceed FDA standards.
USA Kit Components
- 1 – Kit box
- 1 – Test Request Form
- 1 – Collection Tray
- 1 – Specimen Vial*
- 2 – Gloves
- 1 – Zip Closure Specimen Bag
- 1 – Absorbent Material
- 1 – FedEx Clinical Pak Mailer
Step by Step Stool Collection Instructions
NOTE: Please review all instructions and collection kit components before starting your sample collection. DO NOT discontinue taking prescription medications unless directed by your physician.
Step 1 – Write the Patient Name, Date of Birth, and Collection Date on theSpecimen Vial.
Step 2 – If possible, void urine prior to collecting stool to avoid mixing it with your stool sample. Put gloves on and pass stool into provided Collection Tray.
Step 3 – Using the spoon attached to the cap of the specimen vial, spoon stool from multiple areas of the sample (ie., from at least 4 areas going left to right) into the vial.
Fill vial to ABOVE THE FILL LINE indicated on the label. Don't overfill. The cap should close without spillover. Failure to add sufficient sample may result in the laboratory not being able to process the sample. DO NOT DISCARD THE PINK LIQUID IN THE SPECIMEN VIAL.
Step 4 – Carefully mix stool and fluid with the spoon (attached to the cap). Replace cap tightly and shake vial vigorously for 30 seconds.
Step 5 – A) Fill out the Test Request Form completely and place form into the document holder of the Specimen Bag.
NOTE: Be sure to write the date of sample collection on the form. Payment type must be completed and payment included to process sample.
B) Place capped Specimen Vial containing the collected stool sample into the Specimen Bag along with Absorbent Pad and seal the bag.
C) Place the Specimen Bag with the collected sample and Test Request Form into the Kit Box.
D) Ship completed Kit Box back to Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory using the FedEx Clinical Pak Mailer provided. Please make note of tracking numbers when shipping your package. See shipping instructions below.**
**Stool sample must be received within 6 days of collection. If you cannot ship the specimen on the day of collection, please refrigerate and ship as soon as possible, preferably within 3 days.