What is (CSA) Comprehensive Stool Analysis Test?

The CSA was developed by Doctor's Data Laboratories.

According to the lab, "CSA profile helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic systemic conditions, and measures key markers of digestion, absorption and inflammation."

It's a popular stool test to understand causes of chronic intestinal health problems (e.g., for inflammation, autoimmunity) including:

• Leaky gut and other common GI symptoms

• Autoimmune diseases

• Unexplained joint pain

• IBD - inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's or ulcerative colitis

• IBS - irritable bowel syndrome

• Inflammation of the gut

• Food sensitivities (IgG or IgA)

• Nutritional deficiencies and malabsorption

• Certain skin conditions (such as Atopic Dermatitis or itchy rashes)

What does a CSA Panel measure?

This test measures the following:

• MARKERS OF CHEMISTRY:

  • Digestion or Absorption:

    • Elastase - for assessing pancreatic exocrine function and insufficiency.

    • Fat Stain - a qualitative procedure is utilized to assess fat absorption and to detect steatorrhea (i.e., excess fat in stool).

    • Carbohydrates - reducing substances in stool can indicate carbohydrate malabsorption.

  • Inflammation:

    • Lactoferrin - a reliable marker for differentiating organic inflammation (IBD) from function symptoms (IBS) and for managing IBD.

    • Calprotectin - another similar marker; fecal lactoferrin and calprotectin may be essential in determining the effectiveness of therapy, predicting IBD remission, and can indicate a low risk of relapse.

    • Lysozyme - an enzyme secreted at the site of inflammation in the GI tract and often elevated levels in IBD.

  • Immunology:

    • sIgA (secretory IgA) - secreted by mucosal tissue as first line of defense of the GI mucosa; as an immune barrier it's central to normal functioning of GI tract; elevated sIgA levels may indicate upregulated immune response.

  • Short Chain Fatty Acids: SCFAs are the final product of bacterial fermentation of fiber, especially by the beneficial flora, and are important for GI health and for protecting against intestinal dysbiosis. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria produce large amounts of SCFAs, which lowers intestine pH and therefore makes the environment unsuitable for pathogens, bacteria and yeast. SCFAs decrease inflammation, stimulate healing, and contribute to normal cell metabolism and differentiation.

    • % Acetate

    • % Propionate

    • % Butyrate

    • % Valerate

    • Butyrate - Levels (in mg/mL) are reflective of beneficial flora levels and/or adequate fiber intake.

    • Total SCFAs - are important for assessing overall SCFA production.

• BACTERIA CULTURE:

  • Expected/Beneficial Bacteria: for example:

    • Bacteroides family

    • Bifidobacterium family

    • Escherichia coli

    • Lactobacillus family

    • Enterococcus family

    • Clostridium family

  • Commensal (Imbalanced) flora: for example:

    • Kocuria rhizophila

    • Streptococcus anginosus

  • Dysbiotic flora: for example:

    • Pseudomonas aeruginosa - an opportunistic bacteria tolerant to a wide variety of physical conditions and temperatures.

• YEAST CULTURE:

  • Normal flora, e.g., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

  • Dysbiotic flora

• VIRUSES:

  • Adenovirus F40/41

  • Norovirus GI/GII

  • Rotavirus A

• PATHOGENIC BACTERIA:

  • Campylobacter (C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari)

  • Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile Toxin A/B)

  • Escherichia coli O157

  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) lt/st

  • Salmonella species

  • Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) stx1/stx2

  • Shigella (S. boydii, S. sonnei, S. flexneri & S. dysenteriae)

  • Vibrio cholerae

• NATURAL ANTIBACTERIALS: useful for treatment when organisms display in-vitro sensitivity to these agents

  • Caprylic Acid

  • Uva Ursi

  • Olive Leaf Extract

  • Oregano

  • Goldenseal

  • Ionic Silver

  • Colloidal Silver

• PRESCRIPTIONS:

  • Ceftazidime

  • Ciprofloxacin

  • Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim

  • Gentamicin

• OTHERS:

  • Occult blood in stool

  • pH of stool

Who should order a CSA Panel?

Anyone with the following symptoms of leaky gut:

• Low gastric acid production

• Chronic maldigestion

• Food allergen impact on bowel absorptive surfaces

• Bacterial overgrowth or imbalances (dysbiosis)

• Pathogenic bacteria, yeast or parasites and related toxic irritants

• The use of NSAIDs and antibiotics

How to test for gut health with a CSA Panel?

You can order the Comprehensive Stool Analysis kit online, collect a stool sample at home and mail it back to Doctor's Data Lab.

For orders within US, a prepaid return envelope is included. For orders outside US, we normally pay for shipping to your address and provide the paperwork for cross-border shipping back to the lab in US.

The kit will provide clear instructions and sample collection supplies that are easy to use (gloves, paper tray, sample collection tube, biohazard bag, return envelope).

The stool sample is valid for about 10-12 days during shipping, if both the sample & cold-pack are frozen for at least 6 hours before returning.

Once collected, it should be mailed immediately to avoid any delays. Store in a refrigerator until shipping (you can freeze this sample).

You will receive a lab report that you can share with your doctor. It will also include a few pages from the interpretation guide for most critical markers.

Be informed, read more...

Learn more about Leaky Gut from Harvard Health here.

The National Institute of Health suggests eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep gut health in check.

Q: Can I purchase the test across US?

A: Except New York and New Jersey our tests are available in all 48 states. State regulations in NY, NJ do not allow us to ship the test kits to their residents and the lab doesn't accept samples from them.

Q: What does the kit contain and how do I use it?

A: The Comprehensive Stool Analysis Test kit contains stool collection supplies (tubes, cold-pack, return envelope, etc.), instructions on how to collect the samples, and a form requesting basic information including date and time of collection. The directions are straightforward and easy to follow.

Q: How long does it take to receive the results?

A: You will receive the kit within about 3-5 business days with a USPS First Class Prepaid return envelope. For faster shipping, you can choose USPS Priority Mail.

After you mail the sample and it is received by our lab, you get the results within 8-10 business days (this test takes longer due to a large number of markers tested using several different techniques over a few days).

Please note that turnaround times on results are an estimate and not guaranteed. The lab may need additional time due to holidays, confirmation or repeat testing.

Q: What do I expect from the CSA Test report?

A: The report with your test results & interpretation will be easy to understand and will have many necessary details. It will mark whether you are negative or positive for any of the bacteria, viruses, and what are their levels of different intestinal markers.

The report will also include several pages explaining the markers in an easy-to-read language. The detailed report and instructions is especially useful to learn how to test for leaky gut from home.

Q: Can I use my insurance to pay for the test?

A: You can use HSA (or FSA/MSA/HRA) accounts to pay for the tests since these are prescription tests (for further confirmation, please check the IRS publication#969). However, please ensure you are not going outside your specified max and min deductible limits. We do not have the capability to process the insurance claim. Since insurance plans vary for individuals we can not guarantee your HSA payment will always be processed by your plan. We suggest talking to your insurance provider if you have any questions.

Q: How reliable are my tests and how do I ensure my results are accurate?

A: Measuring leaky gut markers and microbiome is becoming very popular and several labs have developed unique test panels that either use FDA cleared tools or meet the strict CLIA certification requirements.

For example, this test uses the gold-standard PCR method (polymerase chain reaction) technique to detect various bacteria and molds, with an FDA-cleared multiplex PCR system.

PCR testing is much more sensitive than traditional techniques and allows detection of extremely low numbers of pathogens. However, PCR testing does not differentiate between viable and non-viable pathogens and should not be repeated until 21 days after completion of treatment or resolution to prevent false positives due to lingering traces of DNA. PCR testing can detect multiple pathogens in stool but does not differentiate the causative pathogen. All decisions regarding the need for treatment should take the patient’s complete clinical history and presentation into account.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Doctor's Data Laboratories in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or cleared this test; however, FDA clearance is not currently required for clinical use. The results are not intended to be used as a sole means for clinical diagnosis or patient management decisions.

Q: Can you recommend a therapy if my numbers are high or low?

A: Unfortunately, no. As a lab test provider we can only test and report out data from your sample. We are not authorized to provide any medical recommendations. But we strongly encourage you to discuss the results with your doctor for next steps.

1. The Comprehensive Stool Assay Panel can be a first step in understanding chronic intestinal symptoms. This popular at home leaky gut test kit offers unique perspective by focusing on markers that cause inflammation, autoimmunity, and other chronic bowel problems.

2. Gastrointestinal complaints are among the most common health concerns and CSA profile can help pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic systemic conditions with a simple non-invasive stool sample.

3. The test includes antimicrobial susceptibility testing to natural remedies and those prescribed by your doctor for appropriate cultured bacterial and fungal species to narrow down more precise treatment.

4. Checking your gut markers is a great way stay on top of GI issues and modify your lifestyle and diet for a healthy mind and body.

5. As better health results in better quality of life, and many problems start in the gut, the CSA Test can be a great first step in improving your quality of life.

Why with Us?

7 reasons to order from RxHomeTest.com:

• No lab visits or doctor appointments

• A non-invasive stool test that doesn't require blood draw or colonoscopy

• World class CLIA-certified lab

• Physician reviewed results

• Fast, secure, and confidential reports

• Free shipping (& free return shipping within US)

• Qualifies for payment using HSA/FSA

Still wondering why to order a Comprehensive Stool Analysis Test?

• Each at home test kit from RxHomeTest.com includes a prescription and detailed review of the results by one of our physicians at no extra cost. And shipping is FREE (plus free return shipping within US).

• RxHomeTest.com processes your sample at the same CLIA-certified labs that doctors use. So rest assured your tests are being processed in a world class lab.

• RxHomeTest.com offers convenient, confidential, and reliable results at one of the lowest prices. And we also offer a wide range of health tests.

• You can order at home test kit online, without requiring a doctor’s visit or prescription, thus saving time and money. You do not need to take any time off for lab visits which makes the the test very affordable.

• Our leaky gut test is more convenient than a blood test or serum cortisol test as you don’t need to draw any blood using needles.

Sample Collection Instructions