Stool Testing: Is There A DIY Version?

by Eric Bakker N.D.

Stool testing is an invaluable tool when you’re trying to get your digestive system as healthy as possible. If you go to a naturopathic physician or functional medicine doctor, you can be paying anywhere up to $1,000 for the test. I think the test through Direct Labs is about three or four hundred dollars. Direct Labs are a company we’ve worked with now for about four or five years Yes, you can buy your own stool testing kit. It’s easy enough to call up Direct Labs to test yourself, particularly if you live in the USA. If you live outside of the USA, it’s not that easy to do. If you live outside of the USA, stool testing generally must be organized through other companies.

Some of the best labs in the world for stool testing are American. I particularly like Doctor’s Data out of Illinois. Genova Diagnostics is another excellent lab for comprehensive stool analysis.

Even if you can’t buy your own kit, I believe that stool testing is well worth the cost. Without knowing what is going on in your gut, it’s hard to know what treatment you need. A comprehensive stool analysis will comment on Candida, other yeasts, bacteria, and parasites. It also measures inflammation, immune function (IgA), and short-chain fatty acids. Stool testing can monitor your progress while in treatment. The results of serial stool testing allow you to tweak your treatment plan based on the changes or lack of changes occurring in your intestinal tract.

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I’ve had many clients who wish they would have had the stool test years ago. It would have saved them vast amounts of time, energy, and money had they done a stool test right at the beginning of seeking help for their gut problems.

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About Eric Bakker N.D.

Eric Bakker ND has completed almost ten years of study and has almost almost 25 years of clinical experience in natural and integrative forms of medicine, and has pursued continuous post-graduate study in Australia, America, India as well as in New Zealand.

Eric is the past Vice President of the NZ Natural Medicine Association and is currently on their editorial advisory board.