The GI – Advanced Profile (US BioTek)
Stool
Performed by: US BioTek
The GI – Advanced Profile is the most comprehensive stool test by US BioTek, building upon the Basic and Standard GI Microbiome profiles to offer 98 markers from 15 different testing categories.
The profile combines different testing methodologies to offer highly sensitive results with industry-leading accuracy and reproducibility:
PCR
US BioTek uses real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests to qualitatively detect nucleic acid from various parasites, bacteria, and viruses. The RT-PCR platform is FDA-authorized and requires specialized equipment and personnel to identify DNA within cells. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a relatively simple and widely used molecular biology technique to amplify and detect DNA and RNA sequences. The use of PCR testing allows US BioTek to more precisely identify even the smallest amounts of markers within the stool providing accurate, reliable, and reproducible results.
ELISA
An established immunological technique, ELISA is widely used to detect the presence of specific antibodies or antigens in a patient’s blood. It is a basic testing platform in a fully-automated protocol utilizing advanced robotics and barcoding to identify each specimen throughout the testing procedure. Antigen-specific antibodies, bound to the antigen, are detected through spectrophotometric analysis.
Macroscopy
Stool macroscopy is a method of visually examining stool samples to detect abnormalities such as blood, mucus, parasites, and other foreign materials. The stool is first inspected for color, consistency, and any unusual features.
Culture
Stool culture is a laboratory test that identifies bacteria in stool specimens. A small amount of stool is placed on a growth medium and incubated at a warm temperature. If bacteria are present, they will grow and form colonies. The colonies can then be identified by their appearance and by biochemical tests.
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