Best South Africa Microbiome Testing 2025

Are you feeling constantly bloated, tired, or struggling with digestive discomfort? Your gut microbiome could hold the key to unlocking better health. In 2025, South Africa’s leading health research organisation, Epicentre, offers three specialised gut health testing packages tailored to your individual needs. Here’s how to choose the best microbiome test for you:

Why Microbiome Testing Matters

Your gut microbiome is a vast community of trillions of microorganisms crucial for digestion, immunity, mental clarity, and overall wellness. An imbalance (dysbiosis) can trigger inflammation, digestive issues, fatigue, and chronic conditions. Epicentre’s microbiome tests pinpoint your gut composition and offer practical solutions to restore balance.

Epicentre’s 2025 Gut Health Packages

Epicentre offers three distinct microbiome testing packages designed to fit various needs and budgets:

1. Gut Essentials Package: Best for Beginners and General Wellness

  • Gut Essentials Test

    Includes: Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium genus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus genus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Roseburia hominis, Streptococcus thermophilus

    Lab results in 5-7 working days. No referral required

This budget-friendly test provides a fundamental analysis of your gut microbiome. It identifies key beneficial microbes essential for maintaining healthy digestion and immune support.

Ideal for: Anyone new to gut health testing, or looking for general wellness insights.

What You Get: Analysis of 17 beneficial gut bacteria and tailored dietary recommendations to improve general digestive health.

2. Gut Complete Panel: Ideal for Chronic Digestive Concerns

  • Complete Gut Profile

    Includes: Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium genus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus genus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Roseburia hominis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacteroides fragilis, Escherichia coli, Prevotella genus, Bacteroides genus, Candida albicans, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Campylobacter spp., Clostridioides difficile, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Vibrio spp., Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Shiga-like E. coli (STEC), Shigella/ E. coli (EIEC), Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Helicobacter pylori.

    Lab results in 5-7 working days. No referral required

The Gut Complete Panel offers a comprehensive examination, looking at beneficial bacteria and also identifying harmful microbes that may trigger digestive issues and inflammation.

Ideal for: Those suffering from persistent symptoms such as IBS, chronic bloating, or unexplained digestive discomfort.

What You Get: Detailed insights into beneficial, core, and harmful microbes, with personalised recommendations for dietary adjustments and targeted probiotics to restore gut balance.

3. Gut Deep Dive & Disease Association Package: Comprehensive Insights for Serious Health Concerns

  • Gut Deep Dive & Disease Association

    Includes: Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium genus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus genus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Roseburia hominis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacteroides fragilis, Escherichia coli, Prevotella genus, Bacteroides genus, Candida albicans, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Campylobacter spp., Clostridioides difficile, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Vibrio spp., Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Shiga-like E. coli (STEC), Shigella/ E. coli (EIEC), Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Helicobacter pylori.

    Lab results in 5-7 working days. No referral required

This premium package is Epicentre’s most thorough microbiome assessment. Beyond examining beneficial and harmful microbes, it analyses your gut’s association with potential disease conditions by evaluating similarity scores with gut profiles linked to various chronic diseases.

Ideal for: Individuals with significant health concerns, chronic inflammatory conditions, or family histories of gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders.

What You Get: An extensive microbiome profile, disease risk associations, and highly targeted nutritional and probiotic interventions, empowering you to make informed decisions about your long-term health.

Which Epicentre Gut Test is Right for You?

Choose Gut Essentials if: You want a simple yet effective overview of your gut health without a significant investment.

Choose Gut Complete Panel if: You’re dealing with ongoing digestive issues and need a more comprehensive analysis and targeted solutions.

Choose Gut Deep Dive & Disease Association if: You’re facing serious health challenges or want a detailed understanding of your gut health to proactively manage chronic disease risk.

Why Choose Epicentre?

Epicentre’s microbiome tests are science-backed, affordable, and user-friendly. With simple at-home collection and clear, actionable results, Epicentre makes microbiome testing accessible to all South Africans.

In 2025, taking charge of your gut health has never been easier. Choose the best Epicentre microbiome test for your needs and take a confident step towards a healthier, happier you.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re experiencing digestive discomfort or just want to optimize your wellness, now is the perfect time to try an affordable gut health test. It’s a small investment for insights that could significantly improve your quality of life.

Your gut health journey doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With these accessible tests now available in South Africa, you can finally listen clearly to what your gut has been trying to tell you—and take action!

Book a test with experts
Observatory, Cape Town

For directions to Epicentre Observatory, click here:

Gardens, Cape Town

For directions to Epicentre Health Box Pick-Up, click here:

Stellenbosch, Western Cape

For directions to Epicentre Health Box Pick-Up at the Local Choice Pharmacy Stelkor, 34 Piet Retief St, click here:

For directions to Epicentre Health Box Pick-Up at Stelkor Kampus, click here:

For directions to Epicentre Health Box Pick-Up at Stelkor Simonsrust, click here:

Hillcrest, Durban

For directions to Epicentre Hillcrest, click here:

Sandton, Johannesburg

For directions to Epicentre Sandton, click here:

References

Yaqub, M.O.; Jain, A.; Joseph, C.E.; Edison, L.K. (2025). Microbiome-Driven Therapeutics: From Gut Health to Precision Medicine. Gastrointest. Disord., 7. [MDPI]

Mafe, A.N., Edo, G.I., Majeed, O.S., et al. (2025). A review on probiotics and dietary bioactives: Insights on metabolic well-being, gut microbiota, and inflammatory responses. Food Chemistry Advances, 6. [Elsevier]