Concierge gastroenterology · London
Gut microbiome testing, shotgun metagenomics for IBS, IBD adjunct and personalised nutrition.
A stool test that reads the full DNA of the bacteria in your gut. It maps hundreds of species and what they do. It is used as an add-on in IBS, other functional gut problems, and personalised nutrition. A gastroenterologist reads the report.
Key facts
- 01
Shotgun metagenomic stool analysis
A whole-genome sequencing test performed on a stool sample — the current standard for microbiome profiling.
- 02
Sequences bacterial DNA (species and function)
Species-level composition and the functional pathways your microbiome carries out — beyond genus-level 16S.
- 03
Adjunct in IBS and functional GI disorders
Used to guide dietary and pharmacological choices in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional GI conditions.
- 04
Not diagnostic for IBD or coeliac in isolation
Inflammatory bowel disease and coeliac disease need calprotectin, endoscopy, biopsy and serology — this is an adjunct.
- 05
Personalised nutrition guidance
The report anchors a personalised dietary plan — fibre targets, fermented foods, prebiotic and probiotic trials.
- 06
Requires clinician interpretation
The raw report is not the answer. A gastroenterologist interprets it in the context of your symptoms and history.
Indicative pricing
What private gut microbiome testing costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics and laboratories. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A shotgun metagenomic stool test in our network: £350–£550, with a clinician report typically 3–4 weeks after sample receipt.
| Test type | Indicative range | Typical consult | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shotgun metagenomic stool test | £350–£550 | 15 min | 3–4 weeks |
| Metagenomic test + gastroenterology consultation | £550–£900 | 45 min | 3–4 weeks |
| Metagenomic test + dietician plan | £600–£950 | 60 min | 3–4 weeks |
| Full functional gut work-up (metagenomic + calprotectin + breath test) | £900–£1,400 | Half-day | 3–4 weeks |
| Repeat test at 3–6 months | £300–£500 | 15 min | 3–4 weeks |
| MDT review (gastroenterology + dietician) | £450–£800 | 60 min | Same-week |
Prices vary by laboratory, whether the package includes a gastroenterology consultation or a dietician plan, and whether functional add-ons (calprotectin, breath testing) are included. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A microbiome report is only as good as who interprets it.
Species tables and diversity scores are the data — the person interpreting them decides how those numbers translate into a plan. We route you to a gastroenterologist who works with metagenomic reports weekly, not a generalist.
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a consultant gastroenterologist who works with metagenomic stool data every week — the person interpreting the report decides the answer.
- 02
A plan, not just data
Every report comes with a personalised dietary and follow-up plan — not a spreadsheet of species names.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
The journey
From consultation to plan — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first consultation to written plan — with structured follow-up built in.
Phase 1 · Consultation and collection
Specialist review and home sampling
Phase 2 · Laboratory
Sequencing and bioinformatics
Phase 3 · Report and follow-up
Clinician plan and structured review
- 01
Before
Consultation with a gastroenterology or nutrition specialist
A short, confidential form and a specialist consultation. Symptoms, prior diagnoses, medications, dietary history.
- 02
Before
Collect the stool sample at home
A stabilising kit is sent to your address. Collection takes minutes and requires no fasting or preparation.
- 03
Before
Ship in the stabilising kit
Prepaid return in the stabilising buffer. Samples are stable in transit and processed on receipt.
- 04
Laboratory
Shotgun metagenomic sequencing
Whole-genome sequencing of bacterial DNA — species-level and functional resolution beyond what 16S can deliver.
- 05
Laboratory
Bioinformatic analysis
Species composition, diversity indices, functional pathways and pathobiont detection are calculated by a validated pipeline.
- 06
After
Clinician report and personalised plan
A gastroenterologist interprets the report in the context of your symptoms and delivers a written dietary and follow-up plan.
- 07
After
Structured follow-up
A follow-up consultation at 3–6 months, with optional repeat testing to measure the change.
Typical end-to-end: 4–5 weeks. Repeat surveillance: at 3–6 months.
What it shows
When a metagenomic microbiome test is the right test.
Metagenomic testing answers a specific question — what species and functional pathways are present in your gut, and what that means for symptoms and diet. These are the outputs we use most.
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Bacterial species composition
Species-level identification of hundreds of gut bacteria — beyond genus-level 16S resolution.
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Diversity indices (Shannon)
Alpha-diversity metrics that quantify ecological richness and evenness of the microbiome.
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SCFA-producing bacteria
Abundance of Faecalibacterium, Roseburia and other producers of butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids.
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Proteolytic vs saccharolytic balance
The metabolic tilt of your microbiome — protein-fermenting vs fibre-fermenting activity.
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Bile-acid metabolism pathways
Functional pathways that convert primary to secondary bile acids — relevant in diarrhoea and IBD.
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Pathobionts (C. difficile, Klebsiella)
Detection and quantification of opportunistic organisms that can drive symptoms in the wrong context.
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Response to dietary intervention
Serial testing shows how your microbiome shifts with fibre, low-FODMAP or fermented-food interventions.
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Red flag: high pathobiont load with symptoms — infectious pathway
A high pathobiont signal alongside fever, bloody stool or systemic upset needs an infectious work-up, not a nutrition plan.
Test types
Not all microbiome tests are the same.
What each option on your referral is actually for.
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Shotgun metagenomic stool test
Whole-genome sequencing of stool bacteria for species-level composition and functional pathways.
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Metagenomic + gastroenterology
Sequencing plus a consultant gastroenterology interpretation and written plan.
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Metagenomic + dietician plan
Sequencing plus a personalised dietary plan built around your microbiome profile.
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Full functional gut work-up
Metagenomic testing alongside faecal calprotectin and hydrogen breath testing for a rounded picture.
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Low-FODMAP-guided testing
Baseline and post-intervention testing framed around a supervised low-FODMAP trial.
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SIBO-focused pathway
Metagenomic profile combined with hydrogen/methane breath testing to guide rifaximin decisions.
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Repeat surveillance testing
Serial testing at 3–6 months to measure the effect of dietary or pharmacological change.
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MDT review
Gastroenterology and dietician review the report together and agree the next step.
Next steps
What we do with the result.
A microbiome report is the start of a plan, not the end of it. These are the pathways the gastroenterologist chooses between.
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Dietary intervention
Structured increase in fibre diversity and fermented foods, framed by the metagenomic profile.
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Prebiotic / probiotic trial
Targeted supplementation trial informed by species composition and functional gaps.
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Low-FODMAP diet trial
Supervised elimination and reintroduction with a dietician, with pre- and post-testing where useful.
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Rifaximin for SIBO
Gut-selective antibiotic where breath testing and symptoms confirm small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
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Structured dietician follow-up
Weekly to monthly review with a specialist dietician to embed the plan sustainably.
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Repeat testing at 3–6 months
Objective measurement of how the microbiome has shifted with intervention.
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Faecal microbiota transplant
Specialist-only pathway for selected recurrent C. difficile and research indications.
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Multi-disciplinary team review
Gastroenterology, dietician and, where relevant, immunology or motility input on a single plan.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London, working with a small number of validated sequencing laboratories. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic and laboratory in our network.
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Consultant gastroenterologists working routinely with metagenomic stool data
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CAP/UKAS-accredited sequencing laboratories with validated bioinformatic pipelines
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Written personalised report with a concrete dietary and follow-up plan
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Onward IBD, infection or motility pathway if the report raises a red flag
Red flags and eligibility
When microbiome testing is not the right first step.
The test itself is safe — the important part is knowing when another pathway needs to happen first, or in parallel.
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Alarm features (rectal bleeding, weight loss)
Any rectal bleeding, unintentional weight loss or nocturnal symptoms need a two-week-wait pathway — a microbiome test is not the right first step.
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IBD flare
Active Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis flares need urgent gastroenterology and objective inflammation markers, not a microbiome profile.
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C. difficile infection
Suspected or confirmed C. difficile is an infectious pathway — stool toxin testing and antibiotic-stewardship review, not personalised nutrition.
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Post-antibiotic dysbiosis
Testing immediately after a course of antibiotics can be misleading — we typically wait 4–6 weeks before sampling.
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Immunocompromised patient
Cancer, HIV and immunosuppression change interpretation and thresholds — the specialist team needs to lead.
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Post-transplant patient
Solid-organ and stem-cell transplant recipients need transplant-team input before any microbiome-guided intervention.
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Recurrent SIBO
Recurrent small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth is a motility problem first — breath testing and structural review sit alongside metagenomics.
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Pregnancy
The sample itself is safe in pregnancy, but dietary and pharmacological interventions must be reviewed by the obstetric team.
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Suspected pathogenic infection
Diarrhoeal illness with fever, travel history or bloody stool needs stool culture and PCR — a metagenomic test is not the right first line.
Reading your report
A metagenomic report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication, symptoms and diet
Your details, the reason for the test, dietary pattern and medications that shape interpretation.
- 02 Composition
Species composition and diversity
Relative abundance of the dominant species, alpha-diversity indices and comparison to a healthy reference cohort.
- 03 Function
Functional pathways and pathobionts
SCFA production, bile-acid metabolism, proteolytic balance and any detected pathobionts with clinical thresholds.
- 04 Impression
The plan: read this first
The gastroenterologist’s summary — dietary intervention, prebiotic/probiotic trial, further testing and follow-up schedule.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for microbiome testing depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about gut microbiome testing.
Quick answers on what the test shows, preparation, cost, turnaround, and how metagenomics differs from 16S.
-
What does gut microbiome testing show?
A shotgun metagenomic stool test identifies hundreds of bacterial species and the functional pathways they encode — including short-chain fatty acid production, bile-acid metabolism and the presence of pathobionts. It is used as an adjunct in IBS, functional GI disorders and personalised nutrition, and is interpreted by a gastroenterologist alongside your symptoms.
-
Is a microbiome test diagnostic for IBD or coeliac disease?
No. Metagenomic stool testing is not diagnostic for inflammatory bowel disease or coeliac disease in isolation. Those diagnoses need faecal calprotectin, endoscopy, biopsy and coeliac serology — a microbiome profile is an adjunct, not a substitute.
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Do I need to prepare for the sample?
No fasting is required. If you have recently taken antibiotics, we usually wait 4–6 weeks before sampling so the result reflects your baseline microbiome rather than an antibiotic-perturbed one.
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How much does a private gut microbiome test cost in London?
A shotgun metagenomic stool test is typically £350–£550 in our network; adding a gastroenterology consultation or a dietician plan raises the price. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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How long do results take?
Sequencing, bioinformatic analysis and clinician interpretation typically take three to four weeks from sample receipt. The report is written by a gastroenterologist and includes a personalised plan.
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Is 16S the same as shotgun metagenomics?
No. 16S rRNA sequencing gives mostly genus-level resolution and no functional data. Shotgun metagenomics sequences all bacterial DNA in the sample, giving species-level composition and the functional pathways the microbiome can carry out — the difference matters for clinical interpretation.
Sources
Guidelines this page draws on.
- British Society of Gastroenterology.
- International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics.
- European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility.
- American Gastroenterological Association.
Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, . Published 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30. Estimated 6-minute read.
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In practice, in London
Where gut microbiome testing sits in a private London pathway
With gut microbiome testing, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The wait for gut microbiome testing on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.
In practice, a private gut microbiome testing appointment in London means a named consultant, a proper hour in the room (or the equivalent on a video call), and a report you can actually read. Most of the imaging suites and endoscopy units we use sit within a mile of Harley Street or in Chelsea and Fulham, and turnaround on findings is measured in days, not weeks. For gut microbiome testing specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Fit matters more than people expect. For gut microbiome testing, the right consultant depends on what you actually need — a second opinion, a definitive diagnosis, a bridge into treatment, or reassurance that nothing’s being missed. We match on that, not on who has the biggest brochure. If a test isn’t the right next step, we’ll say so before you book anything.