GI Map Test for Gut Health

Jul 4

To order your own GI Map with practitioner interpretation, click here.

GI-MAP Stool Testing: Understanding What’s Happening in Your Gut

The GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus), offered by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, is a comprehensive stool test designed to evaluate gut health by analyzing the bacteria, parasites, viruses, fungi, and key markers involved in digestion and inflammation.

Using advanced qPCR technology, the GI-MAP measures microbial levels with a high degree of sensitivity, helping identify imbalances that may be contributing to digestive symptoms, immune challenges, hormone issues, and ongoing inflammation.

While many people try probiotics, elimination diets, or supplements based on guesswork, the GI-MAP helps answer an important question first: what is actually happening in your gut?

Why Someone Might Consider GI-MAP Testing

A GI-MAP test may be helpful if you experience:

Bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn and reflux, or excessive burping
Food sensitivities or difficulty tolerating certain foods
Hormone imbalances, weight changes, or skin concerns like eczema
Frequent illness or low immune resilience
Low energy or brain fog without a clear cause
Ongoing symptoms after antibiotic use
Digestive symptoms that have not improved with general gut protocols

Many people also choose GI-MAP testing when they feel like they’ve tried "all the gut things" without clear improvement and want more specific direction.

The test can be completed at home, making it a convenient and non-invasive way to gather meaningful data about gut function.

What the GI-MAP Measures

The GI-MAP analyzes over 40 different microorganisms and functional markers, including:

Commensal (beneficial) bacteria
Opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria, including H. Pylori (the most common cause of ulcers)
Parasites, viruses, and fungi/yeast
Inflammatory markers such as calprotectin
Digestive markers related to enzyme function and absorption
Immune markers such as secretory IgA

This allows practitioners to see not only what is present, but how the gut environment is functioning as a whole.

Why Interpretation Matters

One of the biggest misconceptions about stool testing is that results are straightforward. In reality, gut findings require context.

For example:

The same bacteria may be harmless in one person but problematic in another depending on immune markers and symptoms.
Low beneficial bacteria may require support before addressing pathogens.
Elevated inflammatory markers change how aggressively protocols should be approached.
Certain findings may explain why probiotics or supplements previously made symptoms worse.

Without interpretation, it’s easy to over-treat, use unnecessary supplements, or focus on the wrong priority.

Practitioner interpretation helps translate the data into a structured plan - identifying what needs to be addressed first, what can wait, and how to support the gut without overwhelming the system.

When GI-MAP May Not Be Recommended

GI-MAP testing may not be appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as gut protocols sometimes involve antimicrobial or detoxification strategies that are not recommended during these times.

The Goal of GI-MAP Testing

The goal is not simply to find pathogens, but to understand patterns.

By identifying microbial imbalances, inflammation, and digestive function markers together, GI-MAP testing allows for more targeted and personalized support - often reducing trial-and-error and helping people move forward with clearer direction.

Read an example of a GI Map report here.