Comprehensive Digestive and Stool Analysis (CDSA):

The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis provides diagnostic tools for analysis of digestion, colonic environment and absorption. The Markers used are:

Triglycerides:

Elevated fecal amounts reflect incomplete fat hydrolysis and suggest pancreatic insufficiency.

Chymotrypsin:

Decreased values suggest diminished pancreatic output (pancreatic insufficiency), hypoacidity of the stomach or cystic fibrosis.

Iso-butyrate, iso-valerate and n-valerate:

New research suggests that these short chain fatty acids can be produced through bacterial fermentation of protein, thus reflecting the presence of undigested protein in the bowel.

Meat and Vegetable Fibers:

These are microscopic qualitative, indirect indicators of maldigestion from either gastric hypoacidity or diminished pancreatic out-put.

Long Chain Fatty Acids:

These free fatty acids are readily absorbed by healthy mucosa. In cases of malabsorption, however, they accumulate and reach substantially elevated levels in the feces. They can also indicate pancreatic insufficiency.

Cholesterol:

An elevated cholesterol level in feces is abnormal and may reflect mucosal malabsorption.

Total Fecal Fat:

It can be indicative of maldigestion or malabsorption.

Total Short Chain Fatty Acids:

These molecules normally are readily absorbed so that fecal levels reflect a balance between production and absorption.

Microbiology / beneficial bacteria:

Healthy amounts of Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and E. coli are essential to the maintenance of a healthy system. Mycology identifies and quantifies fecal yeast.