Numerous at-home testing firms, such as Thorne, Viome, Zoe, and Tiny Health, provide gut health testing. The following criteria will determine which at-home gut health test is best for you:
Accuracy and dependability: To ensure that you select a trustworthy and verified testing source, look for businesses that employ CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratories. Because of these certifications, the labs are subject to routine inspections and adhere to quality standards, which ensure reliable findings.
Time: Depending on the exam you select, you might have to wait two to six weeks to hear back. You might have to wait more than a month for results because companies can have a wait-time range. Some tests can use an app to connect straight to your smartphone, which might provide help and faster results.
Cost: Although certain tests are qualified for HSA or FSA funding, insurance does not cover them. Although they are often closer to $200, they can cost as low as $100. Monthly subscriptions are required by certain businesses, which may result in cheaper short-term expenses but greater long-term expenditures.
Usability: Some people may find it more difficult to get a sample using a scoop or swab. Look for tests that take a sample using a wipe if you require a simpler approach.
Findings: Some businesses provide thorough findings that identify the precise nutrients, bacteria, fungus, and viruses present in your feces. The imbalances of “good” and “bad” bacteria are vaguely described by other assays. Many tests offer recommendations for how to enhance gut health based on your findings.
If you believe you may have a digestive disorder, consult your physician. They can assess if a stool test could aid in the diagnosing process or at the very least rule out other potential reasons for your symptoms.
How to Complete a Test for Gut Health
A stool sample is taken for an at-home gut health test and sent to a lab for analysis. If your doctor prescribes the test, you might have to send it to a nearby lab within a specific window of time, like two hours after taking it.
Although picking up your waste could seem a bit unhygienic, you won’t come into contact with the actual waste. Gloves are another option. A specimen jar with a preservation liquid is filled with stool samples. Before delivering your sample, you probably won’t need to keep any feces in your freezer or refrigerator.
Although at-home gut health tests differ, they usually involve the following procedures:
Activate your at-home test: If a business sends you the test by mail, the back of your kit often has an activation code that you must enter into an online profile or app. After that, you might need to finish your profile, add certain health information, or fill out the identification form for your stool sample container.
Gather your stool: Prior to gathering a stool sample, you will need to urinate. The test provider or your healthcare practitioner should supply a sterile collecting receptacle, such as a shallow pan, plastic bag, or plastic wrap that resembles a hammock, into which you will defecate. Some test providers provide you a wipe rather than a container; in this scenario, you will clean your butt while gathering a tiny feces sample.
Take a stool sample: If a stool collection container is given to you, you will either use a swap or the little scooper that comes with it to get a tiny sample. Stool cannot be picked up straight from the toilet. Results will be erroneous if feces is mixed with water or pee.
Move the sample into the container for the specimen: Put your stool samples in the vial or containers that are provided. To ensure the liquid reaches the designated fill line, you must add enough feces to the containers. Seal the vials or containers. You could be provided a separate container or sterile bag to store the sample in if you want to use a wipe.
Get the sample ready: After gathering your stool sample, wash your hands, have your sealed sample ready, and fill out any required documentation.
After that, you will send or deliver your sample. Usually, a pre-paid postage label and box are given to you if you are mailing the sample to the lab for analysis. The date and time of sample collection must be written on each container or vial if you are bringing the sample to a nearby lab. After collecting the sample, you will most likely need to drop it off within a few hours.
What Are the Signs of Your Gut Health Test?
Test findings that reveal potential infections, microbial imbalances, and risk factors for gut health problems will be sent to you.
Depending on the test provider, different outcomes may be included in your test results. The following signs or markers are commonly included in test reports for at-home gut health tests:
Diversity of the gut microbiome: This describes the many bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in your gut. Diarrhea, IBD, liver disease, and infections with Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a bacteria that causes symptoms including diarrhea and colitis (colon inflammation), are all associated with lower gut microbiome diversity.
Dysbiosis, or microbiome imbalance, indicates if the beneficial and detrimental microorganisms in your gut are out of balance. Dysbiosis can raise your chances of developing gastrointestinal disorders and cause digestive problems.
Micronutrients: This examines the concentrations of vital micronutrients in your feces, which may provide insight into how your body absorbs and processes food. Poor nutrition absorption may be a sign of IBS or other digestive problems. At-home testing may measure micronutrients such as niacin, vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin B6.
Pathogens: These include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause disease and digestive problems and are found in your feces.
Your chance of having a leaky gut may be indicated by intestinal permeability, which measures how easily particles may cross your intestinal barrier. A more permeable gut is frequently indicated by a larger concentration of dangerous microorganisms.
Beyond altering your food and lifestyle, these signs may not provide you any practical guidance. The findings of at-home testing firms may also encourage you to buy supplements and health programs made by the company in an attempt to “cure” your digestive problems.