Gastrointestinal Blood Test
A gastrointestinal (GI) blood test provides crucial insights into gut health and overall wellbeing by assessing multiple factors, including immune system function, inflammation levels, nutrient status, and electrolyte balance. Each of these plays a key role in digestive health and systemic function.
1. Immune System Markers
The gut houses around 70% of the body's immune system, making immune markers an essential aspect of gastrointestinal health.
Elevated or suppressed immune markers can indicate chronic infections, autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, or gut barrier dysfunction (e.g., leaky gut syndrome).
2. Inflammation Markers
Chronic inflammation in the gut is linked to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerances, and infections.
Common inflammatory markers include:
C-reactive protein (CRP) – A general marker of systemic inflammation, which may reflect gut inflammation.
3. Key Nutrient Deficiencies
The gut is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food, so deficiencies often point to malabsorption issues, digestive disorders, or imbalanced gut bacteria.
Important nutrients assessed include:
Vitamin B12 & Folate – Low levels suggest malabsorption due to issues like pernicious anaemia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or celiac disease.
Iron, Ferritin & Transferrin Saturation – Deficiencies may indicate gut inflammation, celiac disease, heavy bleeding (e.g., ulcers), or low stomach acid affecting absorption.
Vitamin D – Essential for immune function and gut health; low levels are linked to autoimmune gut conditions and increased intestinal permeability.
Zinc & Magnesium – Important for gut healing, immune function, and enzyme activity; deficiencies can impair digestion and cause gut lining damage.
4. Electrolyte Balance
Electrolytes help regulate fluid balance, nerve signalling, and muscle function, including the muscles of the digestive tract.
Key electrolytes include:
Sodium & Potassium – Imbalances can indicate dehydration, poor absorption, or excessive fluid loss due to diarrhoea.
Calcium – Low levels may be due to vitamin D deficiency or malabsorption disorders like celiac disease.
Chloride & Bicarbonate – Help assess acid-base balance, which affects digestion and overall gut function.
Why These Tests Matter for Gut Health
Identifying immune system imbalances can help address chronic infections, food sensitivities, and autoimmune issues.
Detecting inflammation early can prevent serious conditions like Crohn’s disease, colitis, or systemic inflammatory responses.
Correcting nutrient deficiencies can improve digestion, energy levels, mental clarity, and immune function.
Maintaining electrolyte balance ensures proper hydration, nerve function, and muscle coordination within the digestive tract.
A gastrointestinal blood test provides valuable insights into gut function, immune response, and nutritional status, helping to identify underlying issues and optimise digestive health.
Step-by-step process:
Pathology Referral: A referral form will be emailed to you.
Preparation:
Fasting: No food before the test (take it first thing in the morning).
No Exercise: Avoid physical activity before your blood draw.
No Alcohol: Avoid heavy alcohol consumption the night before.
Blood Draw: Print the referral and take it to your nearest blood draw centre for testing.
A gastrointestinal (GI) blood test provides crucial insights into gut health and overall wellbeing by assessing multiple factors, including immune system function, inflammation levels, nutrient status, and electrolyte balance. Each of these plays a key role in digestive health and systemic function.
1. Immune System Markers
The gut houses around 70% of the body's immune system, making immune markers an essential aspect of gastrointestinal health.
Elevated or suppressed immune markers can indicate chronic infections, autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, or gut barrier dysfunction (e.g., leaky gut syndrome).
2. Inflammation Markers
Chronic inflammation in the gut is linked to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerances, and infections.
Common inflammatory markers include:
C-reactive protein (CRP) – A general marker of systemic inflammation, which may reflect gut inflammation.
3. Key Nutrient Deficiencies
The gut is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food, so deficiencies often point to malabsorption issues, digestive disorders, or imbalanced gut bacteria.
Important nutrients assessed include:
Vitamin B12 & Folate – Low levels suggest malabsorption due to issues like pernicious anaemia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or celiac disease.
Iron, Ferritin & Transferrin Saturation – Deficiencies may indicate gut inflammation, celiac disease, heavy bleeding (e.g., ulcers), or low stomach acid affecting absorption.
Vitamin D – Essential for immune function and gut health; low levels are linked to autoimmune gut conditions and increased intestinal permeability.
Zinc & Magnesium – Important for gut healing, immune function, and enzyme activity; deficiencies can impair digestion and cause gut lining damage.
4. Electrolyte Balance
Electrolytes help regulate fluid balance, nerve signalling, and muscle function, including the muscles of the digestive tract.
Key electrolytes include:
Sodium & Potassium – Imbalances can indicate dehydration, poor absorption, or excessive fluid loss due to diarrhoea.
Calcium – Low levels may be due to vitamin D deficiency or malabsorption disorders like celiac disease.
Chloride & Bicarbonate – Help assess acid-base balance, which affects digestion and overall gut function.
Why These Tests Matter for Gut Health
Identifying immune system imbalances can help address chronic infections, food sensitivities, and autoimmune issues.
Detecting inflammation early can prevent serious conditions like Crohn’s disease, colitis, or systemic inflammatory responses.
Correcting nutrient deficiencies can improve digestion, energy levels, mental clarity, and immune function.
Maintaining electrolyte balance ensures proper hydration, nerve function, and muscle coordination within the digestive tract.
A gastrointestinal blood test provides valuable insights into gut function, immune response, and nutritional status, helping to identify underlying issues and optimise digestive health.
Step-by-step process:
Pathology Referral: A referral form will be emailed to you.
Preparation:
Fasting: No food before the test (take it first thing in the morning).
No Exercise: Avoid physical activity before your blood draw.
No Alcohol: Avoid heavy alcohol consumption the night before.
Blood Draw: Print the referral and take it to your nearest blood draw centre for testing.
A gastrointestinal (GI) blood test provides crucial insights into gut health and overall wellbeing by assessing multiple factors, including immune system function, inflammation levels, nutrient status, and electrolyte balance. Each of these plays a key role in digestive health and systemic function.
1. Immune System Markers
The gut houses around 70% of the body's immune system, making immune markers an essential aspect of gastrointestinal health.
Elevated or suppressed immune markers can indicate chronic infections, autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, or gut barrier dysfunction (e.g., leaky gut syndrome).
2. Inflammation Markers
Chronic inflammation in the gut is linked to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerances, and infections.
Common inflammatory markers include:
C-reactive protein (CRP) – A general marker of systemic inflammation, which may reflect gut inflammation.
3. Key Nutrient Deficiencies
The gut is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food, so deficiencies often point to malabsorption issues, digestive disorders, or imbalanced gut bacteria.
Important nutrients assessed include:
Vitamin B12 & Folate – Low levels suggest malabsorption due to issues like pernicious anaemia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or celiac disease.
Iron, Ferritin & Transferrin Saturation – Deficiencies may indicate gut inflammation, celiac disease, heavy bleeding (e.g., ulcers), or low stomach acid affecting absorption.
Vitamin D – Essential for immune function and gut health; low levels are linked to autoimmune gut conditions and increased intestinal permeability.
Zinc & Magnesium – Important for gut healing, immune function, and enzyme activity; deficiencies can impair digestion and cause gut lining damage.
4. Electrolyte Balance
Electrolytes help regulate fluid balance, nerve signalling, and muscle function, including the muscles of the digestive tract.
Key electrolytes include:
Sodium & Potassium – Imbalances can indicate dehydration, poor absorption, or excessive fluid loss due to diarrhoea.
Calcium – Low levels may be due to vitamin D deficiency or malabsorption disorders like celiac disease.
Chloride & Bicarbonate – Help assess acid-base balance, which affects digestion and overall gut function.
Why These Tests Matter for Gut Health
Identifying immune system imbalances can help address chronic infections, food sensitivities, and autoimmune issues.
Detecting inflammation early can prevent serious conditions like Crohn’s disease, colitis, or systemic inflammatory responses.
Correcting nutrient deficiencies can improve digestion, energy levels, mental clarity, and immune function.
Maintaining electrolyte balance ensures proper hydration, nerve function, and muscle coordination within the digestive tract.
A gastrointestinal blood test provides valuable insights into gut function, immune response, and nutritional status, helping to identify underlying issues and optimise digestive health.
Step-by-step process:
Pathology Referral: A referral form will be emailed to you.
Preparation:
Fasting: No food before the test (take it first thing in the morning).
No Exercise: Avoid physical activity before your blood draw.
No Alcohol: Avoid heavy alcohol consumption the night before.
Blood Draw: Print the referral and take it to your nearest blood draw centre for testing.