Gut microbiome test
The Vesey’s gut microbiome test analyses a stool sample for 10 groups of microbes: bacteria, bacteria with probiotic properties, butyrate-producing, hydrogen sulphide-producing and oxalate-degrading bacteria, potentially pathogenic bacteria, archaea, fungi, parasites and viruses. It costs £200 in Sutton Coldfield, with no referral needed.
What the gut microbiome test measures
The overall bacterial community in your gut, the largest group of gut microbes.
Groups such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, often found in fermented foods and probiotic products.
Bacteria that ferment fibre into butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that the cells lining the colon use for energy.
Bacteria that produce hydrogen sulphide gas as they break down sulphur-containing compounds.
Bacteria that break down oxalate, a compound found in foods such as spinach, rhubarb and nuts.
Bacteria that are often harmless in small numbers but can cause illness in some circumstances.
Single-celled microbes distinct from bacteria. In the gut they are mostly methane producers.
Yeasts and moulds, such as Candida, that live alongside bacteria in the gut.
Single-celled and other parasites that can be present in the gut, sometimes without symptoms.
Viruses found in the gut, including bacteriophages, the viruses that infect bacteria.
What the result can and cannot tell you
No. A microbiome report describes which microbes were found in your sample and how they compare with a reference population. It does not diagnose a condition such as IBS, coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, and the science linking particular microbes to health is still developing.
A snapshot of the microbial groups in your gut at the time of sampling, which you can discuss with a GP or dietitian.
Whether you have a specific disease. Your microbiome also changes with diet, medicines and illness, so one result is a single point in time.
For blood in the stool, ongoing diarrhoea or suspected infection, a clinical test such as QFIT or a GP assessment is the right first step.
How it works
- 1Book online
Choose your test and pay when you book. Appointments run Tuesday to Friday at The Vesey, Sutton Coldfield.
- 2Collect your kit
A short visit to collect your sample kit, with step-by-step instructions and a chance to ask questions.
- 3Take the sample at home
Collect a small stool sample at home using the kit and return it to us as instructed. Avoid starting new probiotics or supplements just before sampling unless a clinician has advised them.
- 4Results and next steps
Your sample is analysed by an accredited laboratory. A GP reviews any result outside the normal range, and you can book a follow-up appointment to discuss it.
Book the Gut Microbiome Test
- Stool kit and instructions from our team
- 10 microbe groups in one report
- Any result outside the normal range reviewed by a GP
- Follow-up GP or dietetics appointment available
- No GP referral needed
Comparing tests? See all four gut health tests. Questions before you book? WhatsApp us or call 0121 387 3705.
Why test with The Vesey
Alongside the microbiome test we offer the stool tests GPs use: FIT for hidden blood, faecal elastase for pancreatic function and the H. pylori stool antigen test.
You collect your kit and instructions from our team at The Vesey in Sutton Coldfield and can ask questions face to face, rather than ordering a kit online and working it out alone.
A GP reviews any result outside the normal range. You can book a follow-up GP or dietetics appointment here, and we can refer you to a gastroenterologist if needed.
A gut test is never a reason to wait. If you have bleeding, weight loss, a lasting change in bowel habit or difficulty swallowing, we tell you to see a doctor promptly.
Gut Microbiome Test FAQs
What does the gut microbiome test include?
A stool test reporting 10 groups of gut microbes: archaea, bacteria, bacteria with probiotic properties, butyrate-producing bacteria, fungi, hydrogen sulphide-producing bacteria, oxalate-degrading bacteria, parasites, potentially pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
How long do results take?
Results usually take 4 to 6 weeks from when the laboratory receives your sample.
Should I stop antibiotics or probiotics first?
Antibiotics change the gut microbiome, so it is best to test once a course has finished and your gut has had time to settle. Do not stop any prescribed medicine without speaking to the clinician who prescribed it.
How much is the gut microbiome test?
£200, paid when you book online. The price includes the kit and laboratory analysis.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book and pay online without a referral.
How do I collect the sample?
At your appointment our team gives you the kit and walks you through the instructions. You collect a small stool sample at home using the kit and return it to The Vesey as instructed, and we send it to the laboratory.
Who reviews the results?
A GP reviews any result outside the normal range. You can book a follow-up GP appointment to discuss your results, and we can refer you to a gastroenterologist if needed.