Bioscreen Stool Test
We have a trillion bacteria living in the gut that manufacture amino acids, vitamins and other chemicals which are used by the body to maintain health 24 hours each and every day.
Intestinal Dysbiosis, or alterations to the distributions of microflora in the gut, can lead to altered amino acid production and increased amounts of harmful chemicals which are absorbed and may produce symptoms in many different body organs.
We can now test the gut to ascertain what the environment of the gut, the gut microbiome, looks like and if it is in balance.
What bioscreen does
The extended Faecal microbiology performed by Bioscreen is very different and far more comprehensive than what your GP is likely to order when they order a stool test. Most GPs will order a Faecal Bacteriology and Parasitology test. This test looks for abnormal bacteria and parasites that should not be in the gut.
The Bioscreen test is a specialist test that cultures and counts the bacteria that should normally be in the gut – but should be there in the right amounts for a healthy gut microbiota.
Your body requires a host of microbial metabolities for its metabolism to function effectively. When these metaboloties are lacking, or alternatively, in excessive supply, body processes suffer and symptoms may result.
As the name suggests, the FMA (Faecal Microbial Analysis) is an extended investigation of the microscopic gut flora of the lower intestinal tract, which are collected from a faecal sample. Microbes from your sample are grown and the presence and actual quantities of faecal bacteria, both aerobes and anaerobes, and yeasts are identified.
If these microbes are significantly outside normal reference ranges an imbalance of the intestinal ecosystem, the microbiota, can be specifically identified. lntestinal dysbiosis has been reported in chronic pain & fatigue disorders including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, gastrointestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as chronic infections and immune disorders and mood and neurological disorders.
How is the test performed
A stool sample is collected in the privacy of your home and then sent to the specialist laboratory for full assessment. The test is easy to collect and you are provided with full step-by-step instructions.
Once the results have been fully assessed by your practitioner, they will see you for a comprehensive appointment to discuss your results in detail and devise a personalised treatment plan to address any dysbiosis or infections that are causing your health symptoms.
Meet the team of practitioners with a special interest in bioscreen testing