Personalised Services
Gut Microbiome
An advanced assessment of your intestinal ecosystem — one comprehensive investigation offering insight into digestion, immunity, metabolism and general wellbeing.
Order online
myBIOME™ – Gut Microbiome Analysis
£504.99
The basics
What is the gut microbiome?
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in balance with you. Together they form the gut microbiome — an ecosystem as individual as a fingerprint, and one that quietly shapes how you digest food, defend against infection and regulate energy.
In short: gut health underpins general health. Microbiome testing gives a detailed picture of the balance of your intestinal flora and how it may be affecting your digestion, immunity, metabolism and sense of wellbeing.
Why it matters
Why is the gut microbiome important?
A balanced microbiome contributes to several everyday physiological processes.
Digestion of fibre
Ferments dietary fibre into short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate, propionate and acetate, which nourish the cells lining the colon.
Gut barrier integrity
Helps maintain the intestinal barrier that separates the gut contents from the bloodstream.
Vitamin production
Contributes to the synthesis of vitamin B12, vitamin K and folate.
Metabolic regulation
Participates in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
Immune modulation
Supports immune balance through regulatory T cell induction and secretory IgA production.
The gut–brain axis
Communicates in both directions with the central nervous system, influencing mood, focus and sleep.
Every microbiome is unique
Its composition is shaped over a lifetime by:
- Mode of birth — vaginal delivery or caesarean section
- Early feeding — breast milk or formula
- Daily diet — fibre-rich foods compared with sugar and saturated fat
- Antibiotics and other medicines
- Chronic stress, sleep quality and physical activity
- Age, chronic illness and intestinal inflammation
Who it is for
Who should consider gut microbiome testing?
Testing is most often helpful where symptoms are persistent and a cause has not been clearly identified.
Chronic digestive symptoms such as bloating, wind or irregular bowel habits.
Skin and allergic conditions including eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.
Persistent fatigue, brain fog or anxiety.
Metabolic concerns such as diabetes, obesity or dyslipidaemia.
Autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Pregnancy or fertility planning, where gut health may influence immunity and wellbeing.
The analysis
What does the test analyse?
Four complementary layers of information, drawn from a single sample.
Structural analysis
- Composition of the intestinal bacterial community
- Degree of microbial diversity
- Balance of beneficial species against potential pathobionts
Functional assessment
- Capacity for short-chain fatty acid synthesis
- Indicators associated with dysbiosis and inflammation
- Markers relating to intestinal permeability
Recognised associations
- Patterns reported in SIBO and irritable bowel syndrome
- Profiles associated with gluten sensitivity
- Associations described in skin conditions and in autism spectrum research
Metabolic impact
- Factors linked with body weight regulation
- Energy levels through the day
- Sleep quality and recovery
Technology
Advanced laboratory technology
Shotgun metagenomics combined with NGS 16S rRNA sequencing.
Bacterial DNA is extracted from a small stool sample in our specialist laboratory.
The 16S rRNA gene — a molecular fingerprint used to identify and classify bacteria — is amplified and sequenced using next-generation sequencing.
Shotgun metagenomics reads millions of DNA fragments in parallel, giving far broader coverage than classical culture-based methods.
Analysis can cover more than 5,000 bacterial types, well beyond the limited panels of conventional tests.
Results are processed with advanced phylogenetic algorithms and reviewed with bioinformatics expertise.
Your pathway
How the sample is collected
Five straightforward steps, with no preparation or dietary restrictions required.
Collection kit
Order online and complete payment, then collect your kit from your nearest Hilmi Lab centre. Kits are released only once the order has been paid.
Collect at home
The test is entirely non-invasive. A small stool sample is collected at home, simply and quickly, with no dietary or timing restrictions.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code inside your kit and complete the short online questionnaire, checking your details before submitting.
Return your sample
Bring the sample back to the same Hilmi Lab centre where you collected the kit.
Detailed results
Within two to three weeks you receive a clear, detailed report including personalised nutrition guidance and recipe suggestions.
Your report
Understanding your results
Your report brings together the laboratory findings and the answers you gave in the online questionnaire.
What the report includes
- A clear summary of your bacterial composition and diversity
- Functional indicators, explained in plain language
- Personalised nutrition guidance and recipe suggestions
- Practical lifestyle recommendations to support gut health
Interpretation matters. Microbiome results describe patterns rather than diagnoses. They are most useful when read alongside your symptoms, medical history and, where appropriate, a consultation with one of our clinicians or dietitians.
Benefits
Benefits of testing
Prevention
Identifies imbalances early, so that diet can be adjusted before symptoms become entrenched.
Improvement
Supports reduced inflammation and better digestion, sleep and general wellbeing.
Management
Provides supportive information alongside the care of chronic or autoimmune conditions.
In practice
Medical applications
Microbiome analysis is used as a supportive tool across several specialties.
Gastroenterology
Nutrition and dietetics
Psychiatry
General practice
Gynaecology
A modern tool for clinicians and patients alike — supporting prevention, clinical reasoning and personalised therapy, always alongside conventional assessment.
Please read
Limitations and important information
So the test is used responsibly, please take the following into account.
A wellness and functional assessment
This is a wellness product intended to support a functional understanding of digestive and metabolic balance. It does not replace medical consultation or specialist investigation.
Not a diagnostic test
It does not diagnose conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer, and it does not replace standard diagnostic methods including colonoscopy, laboratory analyses and imaging.
Imbalance is not disease
Finding an imbalance does not confirm illness, and the absence of one does not exclude it. Results must be correlated with your clinical context.
Not a complete microbiological test
The analysis does not detect every microbe present and is not intended to identify specific pathogens.
No antimicrobial sensitivity testing
The test provides no information about antibiotic sensitivity or response to medication.
Adults only
The test is not validated for paediatric use.
Not for diagnosed gastrointestinal disease
Where a gastrointestinal condition has already been diagnosed, specialist medical management takes priority.
Not for emergencies
Acute symptoms — severe abdominal pain, bleeding, fever or persistent diarrhoea — require immediate medical assessment.
Recent factors affect results
Antibiotics, probiotics, diet, stress or other recent interventions can significantly alter microbiome composition and interpretation.
Not fully standardised internationally
Methodology and interpretation vary between laboratories, so results should always be read in context.
An assessment tool, not a verdict
Interpretation should be integrated with your symptoms, medical history and specialist review; recommendations are personalised and advisory.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the test uncomfortable or invasive?
No. It requires only a small stool sample collected at home using the kit provided, with no dietary or timing restrictions beforehand.
How long do results take?
A detailed report is normally available within two to three weeks of your sample reaching the laboratory.
What will the report tell me?
It describes the composition and diversity of your gut bacteria, functional indicators such as short-chain fatty acid capacity, and personalised nutrition and lifestyle guidance based on your results and questionnaire.
Should I stop probiotics or antibiotics first?
Recent antibiotics or probiotics can markedly change your microbiome. Where possible, discuss timing with your clinician so the sample reflects your usual state.
Can this diagnose IBS, coeliac disease or IBD?
No. The analysis may show patterns reported in these conditions, but it is not diagnostic and does not replace standard investigation.
Is the test suitable for children?
No. It is validated for adults only.
Next step
Book your consultation
Speak with our team about whether microbiome analysis is right for you, and how to interpret your results within your wider health picture.