What Does a GI-MAP Test Show? What It Measures, What It Can't, and Who It's For
Quick answer:
A GI-MAP is an at-home stool test that measures the DNA of bacteria, yeast, parasites, and viruses in your gut, along with markers of digestion, gut inflammation, and gut immune activity. It shows what's living in your gut and how well your digestion is working, so your plan is built on results instead of guesses. It can't look for structural problems, and SIBO is usually checked with a breath test.
You've cut foods, tried probiotics, and you still look six months pregnant by dinner. When gut symptoms keep coming back, another diet or another supplement usually isn't the answer. A GI-MAP stool test is one way to see what's actually going on inside your gut.
What Is a GI-MAP Test?
The GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus) is a stool test made by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory. You collect one sample at home and mail it to the lab. It uses a DNA-based method called quantitative PCR, which doesn't just say whether something is there. It measures how much of it is there. That matters, because many gut microbes are normal in small amounts and only cause problems when they overgrow. So what does a GI-MAP test show? It shows how much of each microbe is in your gut, not just whether it's there.
What Does a GI-MAP Test Show and Measure?
The report covers several groups of findings. Here's what each one tells you.
Bacteria and H. pylori
The test looks at the helpful bacteria that keep your gut balanced. It also checks for H. pylori, a bacteria that can irritate the stomach lining and is often behind reflux and bloating.
Overgrowth Bacteria, Yeast, Parasites, and Viruses
It measures opportunistic bacteria that can overgrow, along with yeast (including candida), parasites, and viruses. Because the test shows amounts, you can tell a small, normal level from one that may be driving your symptoms.
Digestion and Inflammation Markers
The report includes markers for how well you break down food and fat, signs of inflammation in the gut, and immune activity in the gut. These help explain symptoms like bloating after meals, loose stools, and fatigue.
Gut Lining Marker (Optional Add-On)
Zonulin, a marker linked to gut barrier health, is available as an optional add-on to the GI-MAP.
What a GI-MAP Test Can't Tell You
A GI-MAP is not a diagnosis. It can't look for structural problems, polyps, or cancer, and it doesn't test for SIBO, which is usually checked with a breath test. Because it's DNA-based, it shows the DNA of what's there, not everything those microbes are doing. The real value is in how the findings fit your symptoms and your history.
Who Might Consider a GI-MAP Test?
A GI-MAP may be worth considering if you have:
Ongoing bloating, gas, or belly discomfort
Constipation, loose stools, or both
Reflux or heartburn that keeps coming back
What Happens After the Test?
Results mean little on their own. At Executive Functional Healing, the test kit is shipped to your home, you collect the sample and mail it back, and then we go through your results together. We connect them to your symptoms, health history, and lifestyle, and you get a personal plan with ongoing support.
A GI-MAP isn't right for everyone. A SIBO breath test or a different kind of testing may give you more useful information. On your free 15-minute discovery call, we talk through which test, if any, makes sense, so you're not paying for testing you don't need.
When Symptoms Need Urgent Care
Get checked right away if gut symptoms come with blood in your stool, black stools, unexplained weight loss, severe belly pain, or a fever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a GI-MAP the same as a regular stool test?
Not exactly. A standard stool test usually looks for one specific infection. The GI-MAP looks at a much broader picture of your gut, including amounts of microbes and markers of digestion and inflammation.
Can a GI-MAP diagnose SIBO?
No. SIBO is usually checked with a breath test. A GI-MAP looks at stool, so it adds information alongside other testing.
Do I have to go to an office for a GI-MAP?
No. You collect the sample at home and mail it to the lab, so you can do it from anywhere in the U.S.
How long do GI-MAP results take?
Results usually take a few weeks after the lab receives your sample. We go over them together once they're in.
Does insurance cover a GI-MAP?
Most insurance plans don't cover it. Executive Functional Healing is a self-pay practice, so we talk through whether testing will add real value before you spend anything.
Ready to Find Out What's Behind Your Gut Symptoms?
If gut symptoms have been running your days, let's talk. Book your free 15-minute discovery call to see whether a GI-MAP, or a different test, makes sense for you.
Executive Functional Healing LLC provides health education and wellness coaching. Justin Kempf is a Certified Health Coach, not a licensed physician or medical provider. "Functional medicine practitioner" describes his coaching approach and is not a medical title or license. Services are educational in nature and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and any discussion of supplements is educational. Medical concerns, diagnoses, medications, and treatment decisions should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
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