Are gut microbiome tests worth it?

Ask your doctor for a fecal calprotectin test if you have chronic digestive symptoms. This biomarker measures intestinal inflammation and reliably distinguishes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

See a board-certified gastroenterologist if you have digestive symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks, unexplained weight loss, blood in stool, or a family history of GI diseases. Skip the commercial tests and go straight to evidence-based diagnostics.

If you're considering tests like Viome, Zoe, or similar commercial gut microbiome kits, understand their limitations before purchasing. These tests sequence your stool bacteria but provide recommendations that lack clinical validation.

Avoid spending money on IgG food sensitivity tests marketed online or through wellness clinics. Major allergy and immunology organizations (AAAI, EAACI) explicitly recommend against them.

Request a lactulose or glucose breath test from your doctor if you experience chronic bloating, gas, and diarrhea that worsens after eating fiber or fermented foods. This test detects small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).