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MediBalans›Genova Diagnostics›GI Effects®
Genova Diagnostics · Gut Health
Microbiome · Inflammation · Barrier

GI Effects®
The gut test that explains why.

GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile is Genova Diagnostics' flagship gut health test — analysed with quantitative PCR, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and immunochemistry. It doesn't just show what's in your gut. It shows how your gut is functioning.

4.8
Top-rated clinic in Sweden
Verified patient reviews · Reco.se
126+Markers measured
qPCRQuantitative PCR technology
HomeCollection — kit shipped to you
Test Facts

GI Effects® at a glance

Specimen & Logistics
Specimen
Stool (1-day or 3-day protocol)
Collection
Home — kit shipped to your address
Technology
qPCR (eDNA), MALDI-TOF, immunochemistry, culture
Turnaround
14–21 days from laboratory receipt
Laboratory
Genova Diagnostics, USA (CLIA-certified)
Ordering
Via MediBalans — official Swedish distributor
International
Kit shipped internationally

What makes GI Effects different

Unlike standard stool cultures that only identify pathogens, GI Effects is designed to answer the question conventional gastroenterology cannot: why is this gut not functioning correctly?

It maps the entire microbiome via quantitative PCR — not just bacterial presence but quantity, ratio and functional output (short-chain fatty acids, beta-glucuronidase). Digestive efficiency is measured via pancreatic elastase and faecal fat. Inflammation is quantified via calprotectin and eosinophil protein X. Barrier integrity is assessed via zonulin and secretory IgA.

This is the test that tells you the mechanism — not just the symptom category.

What It Measures

Six clinical measurement domains

Domain 01 · Microbiome

Gut Flora Composition

PCR maps the bacterial landscape across all major phyla. Includes short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, propionate, acetate) and beta-glucuronidase — the enzyme that recirculates oestrogen from the gut.

Domain 02 · Digestion

Pancreatic Elastase & Faecal Fat

Pancreatic elastase-1 is the gold standard for exocrine pancreatic function. Faecal fat and protein breakdown products indicate incomplete digestion in the small intestine — a common finding in chronic gut complaints.

Domain 03 · Inflammation

Calprotectin & Eosinophil Protein X

Calprotectin is the clinically validated marker for differentiating IBD from IBS. Eosinophil protein X reveals eosinophil-driven inflammation — food hypersensitivity and parasitic infections.

Domain 04 · Immunity

Secretory IgA & Occult Blood

Secretory IgA is the gut mucosa's first line of immune defence. Low sIgA indicates impaired barrier immunity — commonly seen secondary to chronic stress and nutritional deficiency.

Domain 05 · Barrier

Zonulin & Tight Junctions

Zonulin is the primary regulator of tight junction permeability. Elevated zonulin confirms intestinal permeability (leaky gut) — the mechanism through which gut-derived antigens reach the systemic circulation.

Domain 06 · Microbiology

Culture, Sensitivity & Parasitology

Bacterial and fungal cultures with antimicrobial sensitivity. Microscopic examination plus molecular testing for Blastocystis and Dientamoeba fragilis. Add-on: Microbiomix for 28,000+ species.

MediBalans Integration

How we interpret GI Effects

At MediBalans, GI Effects is never read as a standalone report. It is cross-referenced with two additional layers that together reveal the complete gut picture.

ALCAT Test

ALCAT immune reactivity testing identifies which specific foods are driving the inflammatory signal that GI Effects detects. When calprotectin or eosinophil protein X is elevated, ALCAT data shows which antigens to eliminate — and in which order.

CMA — Cellular Micronutrient Analysis

CMA (55 intracellular markers) reveals whether the cellular cofactors required for mucosal repair are actually inside the cells. Low intracellular zinc, glutamine or vitamin A will prevent barrier healing regardless of what the stool profile shows.

GCR Sequencing

When GI Effects reveals significant gut-microbiome constraint — high beta-glucuronidase, low butyrate, elevated zonulin — the GCR logic instructs gut stabilisation before hormonal, nutritional or genetic interventions. A leaky, inflamed gut absorbs supplements inconsistently and maintains immune activation that undermines all downstream protocols.

Optional Add-ons

Extend the panel

Microbiomix™
Metagenomic shotgun sequencing identifying 28,000+ microbial species and their functional pathways. Recommended in complex or treatment-resistant dysbiosis.
IgG Food Antibodies
87-food IgG panel via blood spot. Ordered alongside GI Effects — identifies humoral food sensitisation parallel to microbiome mapping.
Zonulin + H. pylori
Individual add-ons including Zonulin Family Peptide, H. pylori EIA, faecal lactoferrin and KOH fungal preparation.
Questions

GI Effects® explained

Standard stool tests look for pathogens and parasites. GI Effects uses qPCR, MALDI-TOF and immunochemistry to measure the entire microbiome composition, digestive efficiency (pancreatic elastase, faecal fat), intestinal inflammation (calprotectin, eosinophil protein X), barrier integrity (zonulin, secretory IgA) and antimicrobial sensitivity — data unavailable from conventional stool culture.

GI-MAP uses only qPCR technology. GI Effects combines PCR with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, culture methods and microscopy. This enables antimicrobial sensitivity testing for cultured pathogens and microscopic parasite detection — capabilities that PCR-only platforms cannot offer.

GI Effects assesses the consequences of food-driven immune activation — inflammation, barrier damage, dysbiosis — but does not identify which specific foods are causing it. For that, MediBalans uses the ALCAT test, which directly measures delayed cellular immune reactivity to 250+ foods.

GI Effects uses home stool collection. The kit is shipped to your address — internationally if needed — with detailed instructions. The 1-day protocol requires one sample; the 3-day protocol requires samples on three separate days. Wait at least 14 days after antibiotics or antimicrobials before collecting.

Calprotectin is a protein released by neutrophils — the clinically validated marker for differentiating inflammatory bowel disease from IBS. Elevated calprotectin in a patient diagnosed with IBS indicates active mucosal inflammation requiring investigation beyond symptom management. It is one of the most clinically important markers in the GI Effects panel.

Related

Also relevant for gut investigation

Condition

IBS & Gut Health

How MediBalans investigates IBS root causes using GI Effects, ALCAT and CMA as an integrated protocol.
Genova Test

SIBO Breath Test

SIBO is found in 35–84% of IBS patients. The breath test complements GI Effects by detecting bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
Overview

All Genova Tests

Full overview of Genova Diagnostics panels available via MediBalans — the official Swedish distributor.
Book Consultation

Find out why your gut isn't responding.

Book a consultation to determine whether GI Effects — alone or combined with ALCAT and CMA — is indicated for your symptoms.

Book Consultation → All Genova Tests
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