The One CIRS Lab Test You Need - Fatigue to Flourish -

Expert Recap: How to test for CIRS

The GENIE test (Genomic Expression: Inflammation Explained) is a blood test that looks at the way genes express themselves in people suffering from CIRS. This matters because CIRS doesn’t show up on a standard CBC or metabolic panel. But it does leave a fingerprint in your genetic expression and that’s exactly what GENIE measures.

A Story Most Patients Know Too Well…

Imagine this: you’ve been bouncing between doctors for years. You’re exhausted, foggy, in pain, maybe dealing with migraines, rashes, or gut issues that no one can explain. Each time you go in, your labs come back “normal.” You leave with either a new prescription, a referral to another specialist, or worse… A suggestion that it’s all in your head.

For many patients with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), this is the reality. Symptoms are debilitating and life-altering, but conventional testing offers little insight. That’s where the GENIE test comes in. It’s not a test most doctors know about but it is the CIRS lab tests you need if you’re serious about getting to the root cause of your illness.

How do you test for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome?

At Flourish Clinic, if we suspect a patient is suffering from CIRS, our first recommendation is running the GENIE test.

The GENIE test (Genomic Expression: Inflammation Explained) is a cutting-edge blood test that analyzes gene expression patterns in CIRS patients. Unlike standard labs that look at isolated markers like cholesterol or blood counts, GENIE dives deep into how your mitochondrial genes are being switched on or off in response to inflammation.

Developed by Progene DX, the test looks at about 173–188 ‘reporter’ genes along with 15 ‘housekeeping’ genes. When looked at together, these genes map the dysfunction caused by CIRS in key biological systems, including:

Mitochondrial energy production
Immune system regulation (Toll-like receptors, innate immunity)
Apoptosis (cell death) pathways
Coagulation and clotting pathways
Inflammatory signalling

This matters because CIRS doesn’t show up on a standard CBC or metabolic panel. But it does leave a fingerprint in your genetic expression and that’s exactly what GENIE measures.

How the Sample Is Collected

The process is straightforward:

A simple blood draw is collected into a specialized PAXgene tube that stabilizes RNA.
The tube is shipped frozen, on dry ice to the Progene DX lab.
RNA is extracted, and advanced sequencing methods are used to map which genes are upregulated or downregulated.
Results are delivered as a detailed transcriptomic report.

Unlike many functional tests that rely on stool, saliva, or urine collections that patients often find cumbersome, GENIE is a standard blood draw, making it practical and reliable.

How is Chronic Inflammatory Response Diagnosed?

The GENIE test captures real-time gene activity. Think of it as a snapshot of how your body is responding to chronic biotoxin exposure on a cellular level.

Here’s what makes it unique:

Hypometabolism: GENIE often shows suppression of mitochondrial and ribosomal genes, confirming why patients feel so fatigued.
Inflammatory signatures: It identifies dysregulation in cytokine pathways and Toll-like receptors, explaining the widespread inflammation so common in CIRS.
Abnormal apoptosis (death of cells): Many patients show defective cell death signaling—this explains persistent immune activation and tissue damage.
Clotting and coagulation issues: GENIE highlights patterns that contribute to unusual chest pain, clotting disorders, or microcirculation problems that conventional labs miss.
CIRS curve mapping: Results can be plotted against the “CIRS curve” to show whether a patient is in an acute, chronic, or recovering phase.

GENIE test for CIRS: Mitochondrial Gene Expression

Most standard lab tests focus on nuclear DNA or downstream blood markers. These tests show structure but often miss function. The GENIE test is different: it measures gene expression in the mitochondria. This is critical because mitochondria aren’t just the powerhouses of the cell, they are the regulators of energy, immunity, and even programmed cell death.

Many chronic illnesses—including CIRS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and neurodegenerative conditions—are now understood as fundamentally mitochondrial in origin.

When mitochondrial genes are suppressed, energy production crashes, inflammation escalates, and healing stalls. By revealing these mitochondrial expression patterns, GENIE gives us a direct window into the energy crisis at the heart of chronic inflammatory illness.

Are you interested in running a GENIE? Book a complimentary 15-minute consult with one of our Shoemaker practitioners!

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How do doctors test for CIRS?

The average doctor isn’t trained in transcriptomics or CIRS. Conventional medicine focuses on lab values like cholesterol, liver enzymes, or thyroid hormones. While important, those markers rarely capture the multi-system dysregulation of CIRS.

GENIE bridges that gap. It gives clinicians data-driven evidence of illness and recovery, reducing the reliance on “soft” criteria like symptom reports alone. Unfortunately, because it’s a newer test, insurance rarely covers it, and many doctors aren’t aware it exists. But for patients dealing with chronic, unexplained illness, it’s often the missing piece.

How GENIE Helps in CIRS Treatment

1. Objective Confirmation

CIRS patients are often dismissed because their routine labs look normal. GENIE shows molecular signatures of disease, offering validation and proof that the illness is real.

2. Guided Treatment

Because the test identifies specific biological pathways that are disrupted, clinicians can better target treatment. For example:

If mitochondrial genes are suppressed → focus on mitochondrial support.
If apoptosis pathways are abnormal → emphasize detox and anti-inflammatory therapies.
If coagulation is highlighted → evaluate clotting risk and microcirculation.
If MAPK are up-regulated → look for actinomycetes.
If Toll receptors are up-regulated → look for endotoxins.

3. Tracking Progress

GENIE can be repeated at different stages of treatment to measure objective change. Unlike symptoms, which can fluctuate daily, gene expression shows whether the body is truly moving toward recovery.

4. Preventing Relapse

One of the most powerful uses of GENIE is early detection of relapse. Subtle gene changes often appear before symptoms flare, giving clinicians a chance to intervene sooner.

Why We Find GENIE Invaluable at Flourish Clinic

At our clinic, we’ve made GENIE part of our core testing strategy for CIRS. Here’s why:

It validates patient experience with objective data.
It gives us roadmaps for treatment rather than guesswork.
It helps us know when a patient is truly recovering and when they’re at risk of relapse.
It allows us to personalize care and build confidence that we’re addressing the root dysfunctions, not just symptoms.

For patients who have spent years searching for answers, GENIE often represents the first time their illness is truly seen and measured.

The Best Test for CIRS

If you suspect or are being treated for CIRS, the GENIE test is the CIRS lab test you need. It provides clarity, validation, and direction in an otherwise confusing and frustrating journey.

CIRS Testing: Next Steps

Ask your provider if they are CIRS-literate and can order the GENIE test.
Be prepared: samples require shipping on dry ice to the Progene DX lab in the U.S.
Plan with your clinician to use GENIE at key stages of your treatment: baseline, mid-treatment, and post-recovery.