Yes. If symptoms suggest a microbiome imbalance. It is not meant for routine screening.
Understand What’s Happening in Your Gut: So Healing Has a Clear Direction
Many people come to our clinic after months or years of digestive symptoms, fatigue, hormonal fluctuations, skin issues, or inflammation without clear answers. Standard bloodwork often comes back “normal,” yet the symptoms continue.
At 8 Wellness in Oakville, we begin with a thorough naturopathic assessment to understand your full health history, nutrition, digestion, stress, lifestyle, and symptom patterns. When your case suggests that deeper gut microbiome imbalances may be playing a role, your naturopathic doctor may recommend the GI-MAP stool test as part of your diagnostic work-up.
For many patients, this test becomes a key part of a broader naturopathic approach to digestive health, helping uncover the root causes of bloating, food sensitivities, and gut inflammation that standard testing may miss.
This includes helping people across Canada who are searching for a trusted gi map test canada or looking for a gi map test near me to understand their symptoms more clearly. Standard testing may miss patterns that a GI-MAP stool analysis can highlight.
This test is not routinely ordered for everyone.
It is used selectively, when your clinical picture suggests it will meaningfully inform your treatment plan.

What Is the GI-MAP Test?
The GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus) is a DNA-based stool analysis that provides detailed information about the organisms in your digestive system and how your gut is functioning. It measures:
- Beneficial gut bacteria
- Harmful or overgrown bacteria
- Parasites
- Yeast and fungi (including Candida)
- Viruses
- H. pylori and associated virulence factors
It also assesses key digestive and immune markers, which help us understand:
- Gut lining integrity
- Digestive enzyme function
- Inflammation levels
- Detoxification pathways
- Immune activation inside the gut
Many patients ask about the gi map test cost canada as part of their planning — pricing varies by provider and whether additional consultation or interpretation is included.
This gives a much clearer picture of gut health than standard stool testing or basic lab results.
Your naturopathic doctor may integrate your GI-MAP findings with other specialized diagnostic testing when a deeper understanding of hormones, inflammation, or nutrient balance is needed to guide care.
When Do We Recommend the GI-MAP Test?
We do not believe in running every test on every patient.
The GI-MAP is recommended only when your symptoms and assessment suggest deeper microbiome or digestive dysfunction, such as:
- Chronic bloating, gas, or abdominal discomfort
- IBS or IBD symptoms
- Irregular bowel movements (constipation, diarrhea, mixed)
- Unresolved food sensitivities
- Unexplained fatigue or brain fog
- Autoimmune or inflammatory conditions
- Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or acne are connected to gut patterns
- Hormonal symptoms influenced by gut metabolism (e.g., estrogen clearance issues)
- Persistent symptoms despite “normal” conventional testing
If your naturopathic doctor determines that gut dysbiosis, low digestive function, or microbial imbalance may be contributing to your symptoms, this test may be an appropriate next step.

Why the GI-MAP Test Is Different From Standard Stool Tests
Most stool tests simply check for high-level results, like:
- Presence or absence of infection
- Blood or inflammation
- Digestive enzymes at a basic level
But they don’t identify specific strains, measure microbial balance, or show how the gut ecosystem is functioning.
The GI-MAP uses qPCR DNA technology, which:
- Detects microbes with high accuracy
- Measures how much of each organism is present
- Helps distinguish overgrowth from normal presence
- Provides actionable values rather than broad ranges
This means we can build a precise and effective treatment plan, instead of guessing.
How the Process Works at 8 Wellness

Initial Naturopathic Consultation
We begin by understanding your health concerns, symptoms, medical history, nutrition, and lifestyle patterns.

Determining Whether the GI-MAP Is Appropriate
If your presentation suggests microbiome imbalance or deeper digestive involvement, your doctor may recommend this test.

Test Kit Sent to Your Home
The GI-MAP stool test is collected at home and mailed directly to the lab.

3–4 Week Processing Time
Results return to your naturopathic doctor for clinical interpretation.

Interpretation & Treatment Plan
Your results are reviewed with you in detail.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Targeted herbal or antimicrobial protocols
- Probiotics and prebiotics specific to your microbiome
- Digestive enzyme therapy
- Dietary modifications
- Gut healing nutrients for the intestinal lining
- Stress and nervous system support strategies
This ensures the test results translate into meaningful therapeutic action.
GI-MAP Test Cost Canada (Ontario)
Because the GI-MAP test is customized and includes interpretation:
Costs vary depending on clinical need.
Your naturopathic doctor will review pricing with you before ordering the test.
We do not charge for tests that are not appropriate for your case.
Why Patients Choose 8 Wellness for Gut Health Assessment
- We do not run unnecessary tests
- We look at your full health picture, not symptoms in isolation
- Your treatment is customized to your unique microbiome
- We combine naturopathic, functional, and lifestyle medicine in a step-by-step, supportive approach
This is not quick-fix care.
It is root-cause–driven, personalized, and sustainable healing.
Who Interprets the GI-MAP Results?
Your results are interpreted directly by your naturopathic doctor, experienced in:
- Clinical gut microbiome patterns
- Herbal and nutritional treatment strategies
- Microbial balance and digestive restoration
- Identifying root-cause relationships in multi-system concerns
Your report is reviewed with you, so you understand the “why” behind your plan.
Book Your Gut-Health Assessment
If you are experiencing digestive symptoms or chronic health concerns and feel your testing so far has not provided answers, we can help you explore whether the GI-MAP may be appropriate for you.
Book an Initial Consultation
Your naturopathic doctor will help determine whether gut testing is the right next step.