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The gastrointestinal tract is essentially an external
part of the body. This is the reason we do not have to
sterilize our food, but only be sure it is clean and
wholesome. Presently, the risk of being infected or
infested by pathogenic organisms through food and water
is ever increasing. This is due to several reasons:
immigration; frequent overseas travel; importation of
vegetables and fruits; lack of a public health policy to
screen food handlers for transmissible pathogens;
outdoor and wilderness excursions; alternate life-
styles; agricultural pollution; pets at home, etc.
Currently, World Health Organization studies indicate
that about 1/2 billion individuals are infected annually
by Amoeba histolytica and about the same number are
infected by Giardia and cryptosporidium. Considering all
parasites, more than 1/4 of the Earth's population is
infected at any one time. More serious efforts must be
made to prevent, identify, and treat these widespread
and debilitating infections.
Mode of transmission &
who is at risk
The predominant method of transmission of parasites is
the fecal- oral route through hand contact with infected
individuals or via contaminated water and food. Many
parasites are highly transmissible within a household
environment. All family members should be tested if one
member is positive for GI infection.
People with suppressed immunity, eg. T-cell (white cell)
dysfunction and defects in intestinal antibody (IgA)
secretion, are predisposed to protracted and heavy
infections with GI pathogens. Individuals with cancer
and those receiving chemotherapy for cancer are very
susceptible to parasitic infection(s). Frequent and
excessive overutilization of antibiotics renders the GI
tract more susceptible to chronic overgrowth of harmful
micro-organisms. These can produce a wide range of
systemic toxins and/or cause severe irritation of large
areas of fragile, nutrient absorbing intestinal tissue.
Bodily functions
affected by GI pathogens
Intestinal pathogen infections cannot be clinically
differentiated solely on the basis of medical history,
physical exam and/or symptoms. Speci?c diagnosis
requires laboratory evaluation and con?rmation. In most
laboratories the general request for stool ova and
parasite screening does not include the specialized
testing and con?rmation provided by the GI Health
Panel.™ Asymptomatic, mild symptomatic and overt GI
pathogen in-fections can affect and deter
gastrointestinal function, and, if undetected, will lead
to chronic illness.
Treatment & Prevention
Detection and speci?c diagnosis of the pathogens,
including a broad spectrum of micro?ora and common
parasites is of paramount importance. This is because
successful therapy is dependent on two primary issues.
First, accurate and speci?c diagnosis of causative agent
in a patient who presents with otherwise general and
non-speci?c complaints and symptoms. Second, speci?c
therapeutic agents can be targeted to eradicate
offending micro-organisms with an extremely high success
rate, with minimal side effects.
Prevention notes:
- Observe strict personal hygiene habits
- Eat cooked food, when outside your home
- Wash fresh fruits & vegetables with soap & water
- Avoid drinking potentially contaminated surface
water
- Before overseas travel, contact the CDC for tips
- Restrict pets to designated parts of the home
- Wash hands after touching pets
Gastrointestinal Health
Panel™
The GI Health Panel™ is a non-invasive screen of the
gastro-intestinal tract and its function. It includes at
least 15-22 individual, but related tests. Stool and
saliva samples are submitted by the patient after home
collection.
Logic of testing
To insure high sensitivity and speci?ty of pathogenic
organism detection, Diagnos-Techs employs a variety of
methods in the GI Health Panel™ tests. These tests
utilize proven biochemical and state of the art
immunological and other methods. The panel includes:
- Pathogen screening: bacteria, fungi, yeast, and
various parasites.
- Digestion related screens: enzyme levels and
immunochemical markers for intolerance to common
offending foods.
- Intestinal function markers to evaluate
irritation and in?ammation; markers indicate overall
status of gut immunity and integrity, i.e. occult
blood, etc.
The GI Health Panel™ strikes a balance between
comprehensive screening and economy by bundling
appropriate individual tests that would otherwise cost
over $700 at current prices. All the tests are insurer
reimbursed with the appropriate provider documentation.
Advantages & Benefits
- Non-invasive sampling: saliva and stool
- Home collection: no office visit
- Economical and insurance reimbursable
- Comprehensive: detects a broad spectrum of
common pathogens and includes digestion efficiency
evaluation
- Improved wellness: general GI complaints
identified and resolved
- Modular: retesting of one or several abnormal
findings is available without repeating the entire
panel
Common applications of
this panel
Individuals with chronic and vague GI symptoms
including:
- Frequent bloating, gas, cramping, and
constipation
- Frequent travel within US and/or overseas
- Frequent eating outside the home
- Homosexuals
- Food handlers - to protect others
- Food preparers at restaurants, homes, schools,
etc.
- Institutionalized individuals
- Uniformed services
- Dormitory Residents - common quarters
- Children that go to daycare centers
Who needs the GI Health
Panel™?
To determine if the GI Panel™ is appropriate for your
gastro-intestinal and other health problems, consult
with your health care provider. |
