IBS Improvement Programme
What's included
Faecal macroscopy examines the physical appearance of the stool, including colour, form, mucus content, and hidden (occult) blood. These visible features offer valuable insights into digestion, gut lining integrity, and the presence of irritation or inflammation. Changes in stool appearance can often be early signs of underlying digestive issues.
Normal protein digestion and absorption should be relatively complete in the stomach and small intestine - increased faecal products of protein breakdown can signal a digestive issue.
Elevated faecal fat may indicate maldigestion, malabsorption, or steatorrhoea.
Short Chain Fatty Acids are produced by anaerobic bacterial fermentation of fibre and play important roles in maintaining health and integrity of the colon.
Lactoferrin is used to detect inflammation in the intestines. Intestinal inflammation is associated with bacterial infections and/or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is associated with disease activity and severity.
Significant numbers of bacteria are normally present in the healthy gut. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in particular, are essential for gut health because they help to inhibit gut pathogens and carcinogens, control pH, reduce cholesterol and synthesise vitamins.
Our gut bacteria can be divided into ‘bad’ and ‘good’. The good ones for the most part benefit us, whreas the bad 'pathogenic' ones can cause disease. Pathogens are usually present in small quantities in the microbiome, however in excessive amounts they can have adverse effects on the body. The beneficial bacteria of the microbiome have a protective function against colonisation by pathogenic bacteria.
This test looks for evidence of candida or other yeast overgrowth. Whilst yeasts are a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract, they may become an opportunistic pathogen after disruption of the mucosal barrier, imbalance of the normal intestinal flora or impaired immunity. This can be caused by things like antibiotics, antacids and stress.
Test instructions
Take your form to The Doctors Laboratory, 76 Wimpole Street, London - no need for an appointment. If a collection at TDL London doesn't suit your location, then you can book a collection for a venous blood draw (and centrifuge as required) using another phlebotomy service at your own cost. Contact us for options in your location
Fast from all food and drink other than water for at least 8 hours, and no more than 12 hours prior to your test.
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