TestUrGut is a non-invasive test to support the diagnosis of digestive pathologies that allows knowing the general status of intestinal microbiota by determining a panel of biomarkers in stools.

Current situation: problems and needs

• Intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in our wellbeing, being considered another organ of our organism.
• There are more than 10 billion bacteria within our digestive tract, the composition of which is unique for each individual and is in constant dynamism.
• To maintain the balance of this ecosystem is of utmost importance to avoid the development of pathologies both digestive or systemic. The term dysbiosis refers to the alteration of the microbial communities of the organism, but the specific microorganisms explicitly involved in this imbalance are not yet defined.
• Several external factors can impact this equilibrium, such as antibiotics, diet, stress, or infections. Moreover, there are multiple degrees of severity, differentiating the pathological – present in pathologies such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or inflammatory bowel disease – from the transient one.

There is theneed for tools to know the general status of the microbiota, capable of differentiating pathologic dysbiosis from transient, to offer personalized assessment and improve the health and general wellbeing ofpatients.

Our proposal

TestUrGut is a non-invasive test that allows knowing the general status of intestinal microbiota and identifies a potential dysbiosis through determining a panel of specific microbial markers in stool samples. The test allows to guide the diagnosis of digestive diseases and offer personalized assessment to improve intestinal health.

The definition of the 15 microbial markers panel base on favorable and unfavorable aspects for intestinal health, scientifically validated, that lie behind the functionality of these markers.

To offer a non-invasive diagnostic test for the detection of these microbial markers, its detection has been optimized in feces. To this end, we carried out a study with a total of 24 fecal samples from healthy subjects to define reference values indicative of intestinal health. Next, it has been validated in 9 patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The recruitment of patients was done in the Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta. For more information, you can check the results presented in the XXX Congres of the Catalan Digestology Society 2021 here.

A postmarketing study to validate TestUrGut and broaden the identification and differentiation of transient and pathological dysbiosis with a total of 150 subjects is ongoing in collaboration with Clínica Bofill – Cente Mèdic de Neurologia i Psicologia (NEUPSI).

Currently, TestUrGut is for patients who want to know the status of their intestinal microbiota. Also for people with intestinal disorders, allergies, dermatological alterations, and with other pathologies who want to receive personalized advice to improve their intestinal health. With our research, we want to contribute to the general knowledge about intestinal microbiota and to improve the wellbeing of our patients.