The choice of stool tests we can offer you gives you a cost-effective way to scientifically measure various aspects of the health of your digestive system. All you will need to do is to take a single stool sample (very easy to do, detailed instructions and a sample kit will be given or sent to you). You send this off to our partnering laboratory (using the pre-addressed envelope you receive with the sample kit) and within c. 2 weeks we will receive the following:

A laboratory report which you can show to your GP if you wish to
A clear interpretation of the laboratory report
Personalised therapeutic guidance and recommendations if appropriate

For your convenience, you can either pop into our clinic to order your test(s) and pick up the sample kit or alternatively call us on 0845 363 1122 with your choice of test(s) to be done and your payment details and we will send the sample kit to you.

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, affecting men and women equally. Every year over 35,000 people in this country are diagnosed with the disease - that's someone every 15 minutes. Every year nearly 16,000 people in this country die from bowel cancer - claiming a life every 30 minutes. Although 90% of all people diagnosed are over 55 (average age 70) a growing number of younger people are living with the disease. The good news is that b owel cancer is highly treatable if caught in the early stages.

What causes bowel cancer?

Although the exact cause of bowel cancer is unknown there are certain factors that put people at risk:

Age: Bowel cancer tends to affect both men and women equally over the age of 55.
Family history: Bowel cancer can occur in a number of people who have significant family history of bowel cancer.
Diet and lifestyle: An inactive lifestyle and a low vegetable, high-fat diet can increase the risk of bowel cancer.
Inflammatory bowel disease: People with a long history of crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, or who have had previous polyps removed, may be at an increased risk.

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

Persistent change of bowel habit over four to six weeks with unexplained constipation or diarrhoea.

Persistent rectal bleeding with no soreness, pain, swelling or itching.
Unexplained severe pain and/or lump in the abdomen.
Extreme tiredness without an obvious cause.

Unfortunately, early stages of bowel cancer may not cause any symptoms at all but have the best chance of being treated successfully. It is important to remember that most symptoms do not turn out to be bowel cancer.

Why take the tumour marker stool test?

If you have a family history of bowel cancer, or find that you are suffering from any of the above symptoms, you may want to take this test maybe once a year as part of your preventative approach. This test provides a 95% accurate screening tool (most accurate test currently available) enabling early detection of bowel cancer development. Bowel cancer detected in an early stage has a very good chance to be treated successfully.

And like any other test, it can also combined with a full test such as the Basic Programme or Extended Programme or additional specific test options such as Parasites or Candida if you suspect that these conditions may apply to you. If you need any advice as to which test(s) may be most suitable to your requirements, simply contact us and we will be glad to advise.

We can offer you two colon cancer test options:

Basic colon cancer test (95% accurate M2-PK marker): £71.50

The extended colon cancer test is a combination of the basic colon cancer stool test together with the following stool test options to make this a most comprehensive colon cancer test we can offer:

PMN Elastase (tests for inflammations and leaky gut)
Human Albumin (checks for different markers relating to inflammation and leaky gut)
Calprotectin (tests for inflammation and IBS)
Blood in stool (Human-Hb and Human-Hb-Hatoglobin-Complex: a specific tumour marker)

This combination of test options covers a wider range of markers which can indicate the presence of colon cancer and precursors which can develop into colon cancer. Please note that there is no single or basic combination of tests available to 100% confirm or rule out colon cancer.

Extended colon cancer test (see above for options included): £231.40

Should your stool test results indicate a high likelihood of colon cancer it does therefore not 100% confirm colon cancer but simply indicate a high likelihood. You will want to discuss the results with your GP or consultant and investigate options such as a colonoscopy and/or biopsy.

What is intestinal colonization and how does it affect you?

The human intestine is colonized by many different species of bacteria. The growth of intestinal bacteria depends on the type and composition of our nutrition. Through an unbalanced diet you enhance the growth of some bacteria whilst inhibiting others. A diet rich in proteins and fat (very common in the Western world) favours the growth of putrefaction bacteria, which generate a lot of gas causing abdominal pain, feeling full and bloating. In addition, large amounts of harmful metabolites grow from these bacteria, enter the blood stream often resulting in headaches, migraines, joint pain or chronic fatigue. The useful intestinal bacteria are further weakened by antibiotics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the ingestion of foods and substances which cause allergies. Damaging intestinal bacteria finally results in the generation of new allergies and other intestinal diseases.

What are the symptoms of a disturbed intestinal colonization?

Symptoms that may indicate a need for this test include:

Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea or constipation
Gas, heavy bloating and cramps
Problems after antibiotic treatment
Headaches or migraines
Joint pain
Skin problems
Sugar cravings
Weight loss or gain
Foul smelling stools
Food sensitivities
Chronic fatigue
Allergies: eczema, hay fever, asthma
A weak immune system

Why take the test?

This is the standard stool test, and a MUST for anyone suffering from any intestinal distress. This simple test will analyse all yeast, moulds and the representative strains of aerobic (oxygen loving) and anaerobic bacteria (survives without oxygen). This is the basic starting point for anyone wishing to improve his or her digestion, health and vitality!

And like any other test, it can also combined with additional specific test options such as Parasites or Tumour Marker M2-PK if you suspect that these conditions may apply to you. If you need any advice as to which test(s) may be most suitable to your requirements, simply contact us and we will be glad to advise.

Cost of test: £104.50

If you wish to have a complete MOT to check the state of your digestive health we recommend you consider havging the Extended Programme stool test. The Extended Programme stool test is a combination of the Basic Programme stool test together with the following additional stool test options:

Alpha 1 Antitrypsine (tests for leaky gut i.e. the health of the gut lining)
Calprotectin (checks for inflammation including malignant ones)
SIgA (test the condition of the intestinal immune system)
Pancreatic Elastase (checks the pancreas function)

This is essentially a comprehensive health check for your digestive system, testing for inflammation, strength of your gut, the intestinal immune system and whether your pancreas (critical for enzyme production to help break down the food) is working well.

Cost of test: £301.50 (this includes a 15% discount on tests purchased separately)

What is Candida?

Candida albicans can exist in a benign form in various parts of the body – the skin, genitals and especially the digestive tract. It is an integral part of our body ecology. Candidiasis is a complex medical issue resulting from an overgrowth of Candida albicans. The normally harmless yeasts multiply and change into a mycelial form (where they adhere to tissue walls and grow). This upsets the ecological balance in the digestive tract. Normally the ‘friendly’ good bacteria keep Candida and other fungi in check, but when the Candida is allowed to grow unchecked they can cause problems throughout the body. Candida is a type of parasite that feeds off the human body and pollutes the system with its toxic waste.

What causes Candida?

We all have some Candida cells living inside us, however certain factors can allow the yeast to increase in number in our bodies and threaten our health, these may be:

Antibiotic use
Birth control pill
HRT
Steroids
Poor diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar
Prolonged stress
Not enough hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Being bottle-fed and poor diet
Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency
etc

What are the symptoms of Candida?

Candidiasis can affect many parts of the body, and therefore produce many different seemingly unrelated symptoms. These may include:

Chronic fatigue
Food cravings
Food and environmental sensitivities
Headaches
Muscle aches
Lack of libido or impotence
Diarrhoea and or constipation
Bladder and kidney infections
Gas and bloating
Bad breath
Heartburn
Acne and or skin infections
PMS
Nail infections
Vaginal infections
Depression, irritability, poor concentration

Why take the test?

If your body is suffering from unexplained symptoms or you have symptoms detailed above Candidiasis may be the cause. One simple test could accurately diagnose the problem and appropriate action can be taken to help. Taking this test is also useful for monitoring the success of any treatments and if the condition has been eradicated. This is the most cost-effective way if you would like to test for Candida only.

And like any other test, it can also combined with a full test such as the Basic Programme or Extended Programme or additional specific test options such as Parasites if you suspect that this may apply to you. If you need any advice as to which test(s) may be most suitable to your requirements, simply contact us and we will be glad to advise.

Cost of test: £63.25

What are parasites?

A parasite is an organism that lives off another organism and may harm its host. If parasites are present, they steal your food, even the supplements you take!

What causes us to get parasites?

Everyone is exposed to parasites, however some people will be less resistant to their attack and have a weak immune system and the parasites can take hold. Factors that can lower resistance are:

Exposure to toxins, chemicals and heavy metals
Poor diet
Low enzyme production
Low HCI production
Colon toxicity
Stress
Candida

What are the symptoms of parasites?

Parasites can mimic other disorders, or cause no symptoms, but when they do they can include:

Diarrhoea or constipation
Gas, bloating and cramps
Skin problems
Insomnia
Sugar cravings
Weight loss
Headaches/backaches etc
Nasal drip/nose picking
Foul smelling stools
Food sensitivities
Fatigue

Why take the parasite stool test?

Although parasites in the digestive system used to be uncommon in the UK, unfortunately nowadays you no longer need to travel to developing countries to be exposed to contaminated air, water or food. If you identify with any of the symptoms above, or everything you have tried to heal your digestion has failed, parasites could be the underlying cause. Your parasite stool test will check for Giardia Lamblia, Entamoeba, Crytosporidia and worm eggs.

And like any other test, it can also combined with a full test such as the Basic Programme or Extended Programme or additional specific test options such as Candida if you suspect that this may apply to you. If you need any advice as to which test(s) may be most suitable to your requirements, simply contact us and we will be glad to advise.

Cost of test: £129.25

If you are suffering from any digestive problems we recommend you have the Basic Programme or Extended Programme stool test done. The Basic Programme test will pick up on any yeasts (including Candida Albicans), moulds, good and bad bacteria and will highlight any specific issues along with a recommended course of action if appropriate. The Extended Programme in addition also checks for inflammation, strength of the gut lining, state of the intesstinal immune system and effectiveness of the pancreas.

Alternatively, if you already know which particular test(s) would be of interest, you can simply pick from the menu below as appropriate. In addition to the tests indicated below, special tests are available on request.