GI Map Test Melbourne
Complete GI Microbiome Mapping — the most comprehensive gut health test available, delivered to your door anywhere in Australia
PCR DNA
Technology
70+ Markers
Assessed per test
At-Home
Sample collection
10-14 Days
Results turnaround
Test kit delivered to your door. Available anywhere in Australia. No referral required.
What Is the GI Microbiome Map?
The Complete GI Microbiome Map is an advanced stool analysis using PCR DNA technology to identify and quantify microorganisms in the gut with a level of precision that standard stool cultures cannot match. It measures pathogenic bacteria, beneficial bacteria, fungal overgrowths, parasites, inflammation markers, intestinal permeability markers, and digestive enzyme output simultaneously, providing a comprehensive picture of gastrointestinal health in a single test.
Standard stool tests ordered by GPs screen for a small number of serious infections and check for blood in the stool. They are designed to rule out acute disease, not to assess the functional state of the gut microbiome. The GI Microbiome Map fills that gap, identifying the dysbiosis patterns, inflammatory drivers, and permeability markers that explain chronic symptoms most people have been told are unexplained.
What the GI Map Test Measures
Fungal Overgrowths and Parasites
- Candida species and other fungal overgrowths
- Parasites including Blastocystis hominis, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, and Entamoeba histolytica
- Worm infections including Trichuris trichiura and Necator americanus
Digestive Function
- Pancreatic elastase — assesses pancreatic enzyme output and digestive sufficiency
- Fat staining — identifies fat malabsorption
- Beta-glucuronidase — elevated levels indicate oestrogen recirculation through the gut
Intestinal Permeability
- Zonulin — the accepted biomarker for leaky gut, elevated when the gut barrier has become permeable
- Occludin and Actomyosin IgA — additional permeability markers
Gut Bacteria
- Pathogenic bacteria including H. pylori, Clostridioides difficile, Campylobacter, and Salmonella
- Opportunistic bacteria that cause problems when overgrown, including Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Proteus
- Beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus species, Bifidobacterium species, and Akkermansia muciniphila
- Methane-producing organisms including Methanobrevibacter smithii, associated with constipation-dominant presentations
Inflammation and Immune Markers
- Calprotectin — the primary marker of gut inflammation, elevated in IBD, Crohn's, and significant dysbiosis
- Secretory IgA — the frontline mucosal immune marker, reduced in immune vulnerability and chronic stress
- Anti-gliadin IgA — indicates immune reactivity to gluten in the gut
Conditions the GI Map Is Used to Investigate
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with no identified structural cause
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Leaky gut and intestinal permeability
Candida and fungal overgrowth
Chronic bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea
Inflammatory Bowel Disease support alongside gastroenterology management
Post-infectious gut dysfunction
Autoimmune conditions including Hashimoto's and rheumatoid arthritis
Skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, and acne
Hormonal imbalance driven by oestrogen recirculation (elevated beta-glucuronidase)
Anxiety, low mood, and cognitive symptoms via the gut-brain axis
Chronic fatigue with a gut or immune component
Food sensitivities that have expanded over time
Recurrent infections and immune vulnerability
How the GI Map Test Works
Step 1
Order and Receive
Book a free discovery call or initial consultation with Domenic. The test kit is delivered to your door within 3 to 5 days. No visit to a pathology centre required.
Step 2
Collect at Home
The kit includes collection paper, vials with preservative, detailed instructions, and a prepaid return satchel. Collection takes 5 to 10 minutes. Return the sealed kit via Australia Post.
STEP 3
Results Consultation
Results are available 10 to 14 days after the lab receives your sample. Domenic reviews results in a 60 to 90 minute consultation and provides a written protocol based on your findings.
How to Prepare for the GI Map Test
Discontinue probiotics and antimicrobial supplements including berberine, oregano oil, and garlic supplements 5 to 7 days before collection
If you have recently completed a course of antibiotics, wait 2 to 3 weeks before testing
Prescription medications can continue as normal unless advised otherwise
Avoid collecting the sample during a menstrual period
Do not collect within 3 days of a colonoscopy or bowel preparation
Over 95% of clients complete collection successfully on their first attempt. Detailed instructions are included in the kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
The GI Microbiome Map identifies and quantifies gut bacteria including pathogens, opportunistic organisms, and beneficial species, fungal overgrowths, parasites, inflammation markers including calprotectin, intestinal permeability markers including zonulin, digestive enzyme output, and oestrogen recirculation markers. It gives a comprehensive picture of gastrointestinal function that standard stool cultures cannot provide.
For clients with chronic digestive symptoms, expanding food intolerances, autoimmune conditions, skin problems, hormonal imbalances, or unexplained fatigue that have not been explained by standard testing, the GI map consistently reveals specific, actionable findings. It is the most informative single test available for investigating the physiological drivers of these presentations and the primary test used at Vital Health for gut, immune, hormonal, and fatigue cases.
The test cost is $550 when ordered through Vital Health and Natural Medicine as part of the Gut Health Resolution program, which includes a 90-minute initial consultation and results review. Testing can also be ordered as a standalone test during an initial consultation. Contact the clinic directly or book a free discovery call for current pricing.
The GI Microbiome Map is not covered by Medicare or standard private health insurance in Australia as it is not a recognised Medicare Benefits Schedule item. Some extras policies with naturopathic or functional medicine coverage may contribute toward consultation costs. The test kit cost is separate from consultation fees.
The GI map does not directly test for SIBO in the same way a breath test does. However it identifies methane-producing organisms including Methanobrevibacter smithii, which is strongly associated with constipation-dominant SIBO, and assesses the overall bacterial balance in the large intestine. When SIBO is suspected based on symptom pattern, additional assessment may be recommended alongside the GI map.
Yes. The GI Microbiome Map includes H. pylori testing using PCR DNA technology, which is significantly more sensitive than standard urea breath tests and blood antibody testing. It identifies whether H. pylori is present and quantifies the bacterial load, which informs treatment sequencing.
The GI Microbiome Map is ordered through Vital Health and Natural Medicine following an initial consultation or free discovery call with Domenic. The test kit is then delivered directly to your door. You cannot order the test independently as it requires clinical oversight to ensure accurate preparation, collection, and results interpretation.
10 to 14 days from when the lab receives your sample. From posting the kit to reviewing results in a consultation, total turnaround is typically 2.5 to 3 weeks. Domenic will schedule your results consultation once results are received.
Order Your GI Map Test
Book a free 20-minute discovery call with Domenic to discuss whether the GI Microbiome Map is the right test for your situation. If it is a fit, the test kit will be delivered to your door anywhere in Australia within 3 to 5 days.