Advanced Gut Microbiome Test

Discover what your gut microbiome could be telling us about your health

Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that influence far more than digestion. Your microbiome interacts with your immune system, metabolism, nutrient absorption and many other aspects of your health. When that ecosystem becomes imbalanced, simply eating a generally “healthy diet” isn’t always enough. Sometimes we need to understand what is actually happening in your gut and what your individual microbiome may need.

The GI Axis Advanced microbiome test from GutMapDx gives us a detailed picture of your unique gut microbiome, helping us move away from guesswork and towards more personalised nutrition and lifestyle support.

Could a microbiome test help me?

Perhaps you’re wondering why you’re always bloated, why your digestion has changed, why you’re suddenly reacting to foods you used to tolerate, or why your bowel habits just don’t feel quite right.

You might consider microbiome testing if you’re experiencing persistent bloating or gas, constipation or loose stools, digestive discomfort, changes in bowel habits or food reactions that you can’t quite get to the bottom of them.

Or perhaps you’d simply like a deeper understanding of your gut health and how well your microbiome is supporting your wider health.

A gut microbiome test gives us more information about what’s happening within your individual gut ecosystem, helping us move away from guesswork and make more personalised decisions about the foods, nutrition and lifestyle strategies that may best support you.

What does the test look at?

Using advanced metagenomic analysis, the GI Axis Advanced test provides extensive information about your microbiome, including:

• Microbiome diversity and biome age
• Key beneficial and significant bacteria
• Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers
• Digestion and nutrient absorption
• Inflammation and immune function
• Bowel habits, bloating and gas
• Histamine
• Insulin balance and metabolic health
• Sleep, mood and stress resilience
• Gut-brain, gut-hormone and gut-metabolism interactions
• Intestinal permeability and dysbiosis indicators

The Advanced test also includes a comprehensive microbial screen, looking for pathogenic bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses and archaea that we may need to take into consideration.

Simple, discreet testing at home

One of the things I particularly like about this test is how easy it is to complete.

There’s no complicated stool collection. You simply take a small swab sample from the toilet paper after wiping. Your kit contains everything you need to collect your sample at home and return it to the laboratory for analysis.

More than results – what can we actually do about them?

Knowing what’s happening in your microbiome is interesting. Knowing what to do next is much more useful.

Your results can help us identify personalised nutrition strategies, including foods that may help support beneficial bacteria and encourage greater microbial diversity. Rather than simply giving you a list of bacteria, we can use your results to start building a practical plan for supporting your gut – and your wider health.

Optional personalised microbiome supplements

Following testing, there may also be the option to have a bespoke three-month supplement formulation created around your individual microbiome results.

Instead of choosing an off-the-shelf formulation designed for everyone, this allows supplementation to be tailored much more closely to the microbial patterns identified in your test. This is completely optional and we won’t know whether it is appropriate for you until we have your results.

Your test and consultation – £450

Your standalone microbiome testing package includes:

• GI Axis Advanced home testing kit
• Laboratory microbiome analysis
• Comprehensive personalised report
• Nutrition and food recommendations
• 30-minute consultation with me to interpret your results
• Personalised next-step recommendations

However, if you’re experiencing ongoing symptoms or want to make meaningful improvements to your health, testing is often most valuable when it’s part of a bigger picture.

Want more than a test?

Make your microbiome test part of your Signature Elite programme

A microbiome test can give us an extraordinary amount of information – but your health isn’t determined by your microbiome alone.

What you’re eating, how you’re sleeping, your stress levels, movement, hormones, medical history and lifestyle all matter too. That’s why, for many people, I recommend microbiome testing as part of my Signature Elite three-month personalised nutrition programme.

Where appropriate, the GI Axis Advanced can be selected as the functional test included within your programme. We’ll use your results alongside a much deeper assessment of your diet, symptoms and lifestyle to create a personalised strategy. More importantly, I’ll support you as you put those changes into practice.

Because ultimately, I don’t want you simply to improve a test result.

I want to help you create a healthier way of eating and living that supports your gut – and your overall health – for the long term.

Find out more about working with Wendy 1:1 https://hillstart.me.uk/signature-support/

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a gut microbiome test show?

A gut microbiome test gives us a detailed picture of the microorganisms living within your gut and how they may be influencing different aspects of your health. The GI Axis Advanced test looks at microbial diversity, beneficial bacteria, digestive function, short-chain fatty acid production, inflammation, nutrient absorption and a number of gut-health pathways.
It also includes a comprehensive microbial screen looking for potentially pathogenic bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses and archaea. The aim isn’t simply to give you a long list of bacteria, but to provide useful information that we can turn into practical, personalised recommendations.

Who might benefit from microbiome testing?

You might consider microbiome testing if you’re experiencing ongoing bloating, gas, digestive discomfort, constipation, loose stools or changes in your bowel habits, particularly when the reason isn’t clear.
It can also be useful if you simply want to understand your gut health in more detail and find out how your diet and lifestyle could better support a healthy and diverse microbiome.
A microbiome test isn’t a diagnosis, and it isn’t always the most appropriate test for every person. If you’re unsure, please get in touch and I can help you decide whether testing is a useful next step.

How do I collect the stool sample?

This is one of the things I particularly like about the GutMapDx test – the sample collection is really simple.
Rather than having to collect a large stool sample, you take a small swab from the toilet paper after wiping. Your testing kit contains everything you need, along with instructions for collecting your sample at home and returning it to the laboratory.

Can a microbiome test tell me what I should eat?

Your results can help us identify foods and dietary strategies that may support your individual microbiome, including foods that can help nourish beneficial bacteria and encourage microbial diversity.
However, I don’t believe that good gut health comes from following a computer-generated list of foods. During your consultation we’ll put the results into context alongside your current diet, symptoms and lifestyle, so that your recommendations are practical, realistic and appropriate for you.

What happens when my microbiome test results come back?

Once your results are available, we’ll have a 30-minute consultation together to go through the key findings. I’ll explain what they mean, highlight the areas I think are most relevant and help you understand what you can do next.
You’ll receive personalised recommendations, which may include changes to your diet and lifestyle and, where appropriate, supplements or further support.

Do I need to take supplements after microbiome testing?

Not necessarily. I’m very much food-first, and your results may highlight dietary changes that we can use to support your microbiome.
Where supplementation could be useful, we can discuss the options. There is also an optional service available following the GI Axis Advanced test where a personalised three-month supplement formulation can be created around your individual microbiome results. This isn’t included in the £450 test price and isn’t something everyone will need.

Is the microbiome test included in your 1:1 programmes?

Functional testing is included within my three-month Signature Elite programme, and the GI Axis Advanced microbiome test may be selected where I feel it is the most appropriate test for you.
For many people, this is the best way to approach microbiome testing because we have time to look beyond the test result. We can explore your diet, lifestyle, symptoms and wider health, make personalised changes and then work together to help you maintain them.
The standalone £450 microbiome test is a great option if you simply want the test, results and a 30-minute consultation. If you’re looking for a deeper dive into your health and more support in making long-term changes, take a look at Signature Elite.