Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA)

At-home stool test in four levels, each building on the last. Choose the depth your practitioner recommends.

What this test measures

Level 1 — microbiology: bacteria, yeasts, parasites and beneficial flora, plus stool appearance. Level 2 — adds digestive function and absorption: chymotrypsin, meat and vegetable fibres, putrefactive short-chain fatty acids, stool triglycerides and long-chain fatty acids, beneficial SCFAs including butyrate, acetate and propionate, β-glucuronidase and pH. Level 3 — adds pancreatic elastase-1 and antimicrobial sensitivities for organisms found, both pharmaceutical and natural. Level 4 — adds inflammation and immune markers (calprotectin, eosinophil protein X, transglutaminase IgA), occult blood, and *Helicobacter pylori* antigen.

Why these markers matter

Digestion is a sequence — breaking food down, absorbing it, and what the resident microbes do with the remainder. Each CDSA level adds a step of that sequence. Level 1 describes who's living there. Level 2 asks whether food is actually being broken down and absorbed. Level 3 adds pancreatic function and, importantly, what the organisms found respond to. Level 4 adds markers of irritation in the bowel wall. The right level depends on the question being asked, which is a conversation worth having before ordering rather than after.

What you get

Kit posted to you with instructions and return packaging. Results in your private dashboard. Level 1 is typically around a week; higher levels take longer.

Before you collect

Stop antibiotics and antifungals two weeks beforehand, and probiotics, digestive enzymes and gut supplements three days beforehand, unless your practitioner advises otherwise. Collect Monday to Wednesday, refrigerate (never freeze), post back same day in the express bag provided.

Who this suits

People with persistent digestive symptoms who want to match test depth to their situation.

Your next step

Once you have your results, book with a Canwell naturopath, nutritionist or practitioner to talk them through and build a wellness plan that suits you. Book with Canwell