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When it comes to understanding your overall health, many overlook the critical insights that stool testing can provide. The gut is central not only to digestion but also to immune health, nutrient absorption, and even chronic disease risk. Among the advanced testing options, the Doctor’s Data GI360 stands out as a comprehensive stool analysis method for evaluating the gut microbiome, identifying bacterial, viral, yeast, and parasite infections, and assessing gastrointestinal health through immune and inflammatory markers.
Let’s unravel what this test offers, why it matters, and how it connects to broader health challenges like chronic gastrointestinal illness, dysbiosis, and even cancer recovery.
The GI360 by Doctor’s Data is a state-of-the-art stool test that provides clinicians with a powerful gut microbiota DNA analysis tool. It goes beyond basic testing by combining multiple technologies including multiplex PCR molecular technology, growth-based culture and ID, and maldi-tof mass spectrometry to give an incredibly detailed view of the gastrointestinal microbiome.
At its core, the GI360 profile is a clinically applicable stool analysis that identifies and characterizes the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota. This includes both commensal (beneficial) and pathogenic bacteria, as well as the presence of viruses, parasites, and yeasts. The test helps detect and assess the status of the digestive tract, inflammation, and immune responses, providing accurate and reliable results from a non-invasive test.
This advanced profile uses multiplex PCR molecular technology coupled with MALDI-TOF and microscopy to detect organisms and markers that may not be caught through conventional methods.
The GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus), created by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, is another widely used stool test that uses quantitative PCR (qPCR) technology. Unlike culture-based methods, qPCR provides a highly sensitive and precise measurement of microbial DNA.
The GI-MAP focuses on identifying pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viruses, alongside beneficial bacteria that support gut and immune health. It also reports on functional gastrointestinal markers such as pancreatic elastase, occult blood, calprotectin, and secretory IgA.
This makes GI-MAP especially useful for clinicians who want a DNA-based map of the gastrointestinal system combined with clinical markers of digestive and immune function. Practitioners often use it for patients with chronic digestive complaints, autoimmune conditions, mood disorders, and unexplained inflammation.
While GI360 provides data on microbial diversity through culture, mass spectrometry, and DNA sequencing, GI-MAP emphasizes precise quantification of microbial DNA and functional markers, offering clinicians another powerful tool for individualized care.
Bacterial balance is central to maintaining gut health. The GI360 test analyzes bacterial abundance and profile within the stool sample, allowing clinicians to compare the patient’s microbiota profile that differs from the defined normobiotic reference population.
It detects pathogenic bacteria such as
These bacteria can cause both acute or chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and may be contributing to systemic inflammation.
In addition to identifying pathogens, the test also evaluates the overall bacterial abundance and profile, with specific attention to beneficial species like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. A healthy gut microbiota is characterized by high abundance and diversity, while dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, has been shown to contribute to dysbiosis and other chronic disease states.
The dysbiosis index, a calculation with scores from 1 to 5 based on microbial patterns, helps categorize the microbiome as normobiotic or dysbiotic. Scores of 2 indicate mild dysbiosis, while higher values suggest moderate to severe imbalance, potentially contributing to a range of chronic conditions.
The presence of pathogenic viruses in the gastrointestinal tract often goes undetected in conventional stool tests. However, viral agents like adenovirus, norovirus, rotavirus, and enteroviruses are included in the 45 targeted analytes of the GI360 profile.
Viruses may be contributing to acute or chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, especially in immunocompromised individuals or those undergoing cancer therapy. These infections trigger immune activation, disrupt microbiome abundance and diversity, and can impair recovery.
By identifying viral presence through PCR testing, healthcare providers gain crucial insight into persistent gut inflammation and immune dysregulation. This can influence treatment strategies involving natural agents, dietary interventions, or antiviral support.
Candida and other yeasts are part of the normal flora, but under certain conditions, they proliferate and contribute to gut dysbiosis. The GI360 test uses culture and ID by MALDI-TOF to identify yeast overgrowth, distinguishing between harmless colonization and clinically significant fungal imbalance.
This imbalance is frequently associated with recent antibiotic use, chemotherapy, or compromised immunity. Yeast overgrowth can result in digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, and fatigue, and may impair gut barrier integrity.
Detecting yeasts through this comprehensive stool analysis allows for targeted antifungal therapies and dietary modifications, improving gastrointestinal health and overall wellness.
Parasites are another important factor in the GI360 profile. Using microscopy to detect and assess protozoa and helminths, the test identifies parasites and bacteria that may be contributing to symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss, or chronic fatigue.
Organisms like Giardia lamblia, Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Cryptosporidium are included. Even asymptomatic infections can trigger low-grade inflammation and malabsorption.
Identifying parasites improves treatment strategies and patient outcomes, especially in cases of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms or immune dysfunction.
The GI360 stool profile includes a detailed analysis of microbiome stool test data. Using a gut microbiota DNA analysis tool that identifies 45 key targeted analytes that peer-reviewed research has shown to correlate with health and disease, this test enables deep interpretation of the gut ecosystem.
The dysbiosis index is especially valuable for clinicians. It ranges from 1 to 5, helping to interpret the degree of microbial imbalance. A score of 1 suggests a microbiota aligned with a normobiotic reference, while higher scores reveal levels of dysbiosis that may be contributing to acute or chronic conditions.
These findings can guide personalized treatment plans that promote normobiosis, or a return to microbial balance.
Specimen collection is straightforward. The GI360 test kit includes instructions for hygienic and accurate sample collection. Once collected, the stool sample is shipped to the laboratory, where testing is performed using multiplex PCR, growth-based culture, MALDI-TOF identification, and microscopy.
The combination of these methods ensures detailed analysis, delivering test results that are both accurate and reliable. The advanced methodologies used in the GI360 test detect organisms with high sensitivity and specificity, making it one of the most trusted options in functional and integrative medicine.
Beyond pathogen detection, the GI360 profile evaluates digestive health through markers such as:
These results help interpret whether poor digestion or malabsorption may be impairing nutrient uptake. They also provide insight into gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) function, inflammation, and immune responses.
The gut's influence extends far beyond the digestive tract. An imbalanced gut microbiome has been linked to a wide range of chronic conditions, including:
Through analysis of a microbiota profile that differs from healthy populations, the GI360 test provides a window into systemic health issues, supporting proactive care and personalized treatment.
For cancer patients and survivors, stool testing offers critical insights into recovery. Chemotherapy, radiation, and long-term antibiotics can drastically disrupt the gut microbiome, weaken immune defenses, and reduce nutrient absorption. The GI360 profile identifies these imbalances, whether from bacterial shifts, viral infections, or yeast overgrowth—so providers can create targeted interventions. By restoring microbiome diversity and improving absorption, stool testing becomes a vital step in rebuilding strength and supporting long-term remission.
Establishing a Baseline for Preventive Gut Health
Stool testing isn’t only for those struggling with chronic digestive issues. Establishing a baseline microbiome profile provides valuable insight into digestion, immune status, and nutrient absorption, even in healthy individuals. Detecting early dysbiosis or low-grade inflammation allows patients to make lifestyle adjustments before symptoms escalate, making GI360 a tool for proactive, preventive healthcare.
Absorption vs. Supplementation
Patients often spend money on vitamins, minerals, and probiotics without realizing that poor gut function may prevent absorption. GI360 testing evaluates enzyme output, fat absorption, and gut barrier health, helping providers determine whether nutrients are being fully utilized or wasted. With this information, treatment shifts from blindly adding supplements to ensuring the body can actually absorb and benefit from them.
Interpreting the GI360 test results involves understanding the dynamic between organisms, immune markers, and patient symptoms. Clinicians trained in functional and integrative medicine can use this information to craft treatment strategies that address root causes—not just suppress symptoms.
Whether it's rebalancing gut flora with probiotics, eliminating pathogenic bacteria, treating parasites, or supporting digestive enzyme production, the test facilitates a precise approach that improves long-term health.
