A recent US study has raised concerns about the accuracy of at-home gut testing kits. The study found that results varied greatly when the same stool sample was sent to different companies for analysis. As a result, experts suggest that these tests may be a waste of money and may not provide accurate results.
As we learn more about the importance of gut microbes (the microbiome) to our health, at-home testing kits might seem useful tools. These kits – costing from £10 to over £300 – typically involve collecting a stool sample that’s sent away for analysis.
But a recent US study cast doubt on their accuracy. In the research, published in the journal Communications Biology, 21 samples from the same stool were sent to seven different companies offering at-home microbiome checks. Results varied greatly regarding what was considered a ‘healthy’ microbiome. The researchers concluded the results were unreliable and these at-home tests may be a waste of money.
But these are not the only at-home gut tests available, with products claiming to detect everything from food intolerance to inflammatory bowel disease. We asked experts to assess a selection. As we learn more about the importance of gut microbes (the microbiome) to our health, at-home testing kits, which typically involve collection a stool sample, might seem useful tools... Irritable Bowel SyndromeIBS Test, £219.99, gettested.co.uk This test supposedly provides those with IBS with a ‘thorough analysis’ of their digestive system...
Food intoleranceFoodMarble Aire 2, £249, foodmarble.com This palm-sized device measures levels of methane and hydrogen in the breath, which is meant to indicate how well foods have been digested... Excess gasSmall Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Test Kit, £185, gutandhealth.co.uk SIBO is a fairly common condition where abnormal bacterial growth causes excess hydrogen and methane production...
General gut healthmyBioma Basic Test Kit, £105, mybioma.com The results of this test include an assessment of your microbial diversity and recommendations of what to eat and drink to improve gut health. Experts commenter on each kit: IBS is diagnosed through a combination of symptoms. Knowing the levels of yeast and bacteria in the gut will not help patients manage their IBS symptoms. This test is a waste of money.
Don’t worry unduly about gas after a normal meal – even eating one food item at a time would not positively identify food intolerances. The SIBO test kit uses a well-proven method for screening patients for SIBO, which is a fairly common condition causing excess hydrogen and methane production. At home errors cannot be ruled out, but if available supporting tests have ruled out more serious issues a healthcare provider could use the results
At-Home Testing Kits Gut Microbes Health Accuracy Waste Of Money Food Intolerance Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
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