Is it for me?
Who it suits, and what it can’t do.
A microbiome test is a wellness tool. It’s good at showing what’s in your gut. It isn’t a way to diagnose a bowel problem.
Good reasons to test
- You want a baseline before a diet change, and a way to measure what happened.
- You’re interested in fibre, fermented foods or probiotics and want to target them.
- You’re active and want another angle on recovery, energy and nutrition.
- You’re simply curious about your own microbiome.
What it can’t tell you
- It can’t diagnose or rule out IBS, coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
- It doesn’t test for infections, bowel cancer or blood in the stool.
- “Tendencies” in the report are population statistics, not findings about you.
- It shows one day. Your microbiome changes over time.
See your GP first if you have:
- bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo
- unexplained weight loss
- a change in bowel habit that lasts more than a few weeks
- severe or worsening tummy pain, or a lump in your tummy
- a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
These need a proper medical assessment, not a wellness test. In an emergency call 999, or NHS 111 for urgent advice.