Gut Health Testing | Microbiome, H. Pylori | Epicentre
Gut HealthMicrobiome

Gut Health and Microbiome Testing

PCR stool analysis: beneficial bacteria, pathogens, parasites, H. pylori, Candida. 17 to 44 targets depending on package. Home collection kit or walk-in. 70% of your immune system lives in your gut.

Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Naidoo, MB ChB, FCP (SA) · Medical Director
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4.7/5 Google RatingNo doctor's referralHome collection kitPCR accuracy

Who Is This Page For?

Bloating and gas

Uncomfortable fullness after eating

IBS symptoms

Constipation, diarrhoea or alternating

Heartburn or reflux

May indicate H. pylori infection

Food intolerances

Reacting to foods you used to tolerate

Fatigue and brain fog

Gut-brain connection affects energy and focus

Post-travel illness

Parasites, bacterial infections

Your gut is an ecosystem. Trillions of bacteria live in your digestive tract. When the balance shifts – too few beneficial bacteria, too many harmful ones, or a parasite or infection – you feel it throughout your body. A PCR stool test maps what is actually living in your gut.

Why Gut Health Affects Everything

Gut-brain axis

90% of serotonin is made in the gut. Affects mood, anxiety, focus.

Immune system

70% of immune cells live in the gut. Controls inflammation.

Energy and metabolism

Gut bacteria influence calorie extraction and blood sugar.

Nutrient absorption

A damaged gut means poor absorption of vitamins and minerals.

Gut dysfunction can manifest as skin issues (acne, eczema, rosacea), mood disorders (depression, anxiety), autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances (gut bacteria metabolise oestrogen) and chronic fatigue.

How Stool Collection Works

Get your kit

Order a home kit online (delivered anywhere in SA) or pick one up from any branch.

Collect at home

Follow the step-by-step instructions. Takes about 5 minutes. No special diet required before collection.

Return the sample

Drop off at any branch within 24 hours (keep refrigerated). Or use the prepaid return label.

Receive results

Results via email in 5 – 7 working days. Detailed breakdown of every organism detected with clinical context.

Timing tips. For the most accurate baseline, stop probiotic supplements 2 weeks before testing. If you have recently taken antibiotics, wait at least 2 weeks after finishing. If testing specifically for post-antibiotic damage or C. difficile, test as soon as symptoms appear.

Gut Health Packages

Developed in our laboratory
Our gut panels were designed and are overseen by Prof Veron Ramsuran, head of laboratory at Epicentre and a researcher at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His work focuses on the genetics of the immune system and the gut microbiome of South African populations, including a 2025 review situating South Africa within global gut microbiome research.

Gut Essentials: Beneficial Panel

From R2,500

17 beneficial bacteria species. Checks your probiotic status: are the good bacteria present and in the right amounts? Stool sample with home collection kit.

Lactobacillus (7 spp)Bifidobacterium (6 spp)AkkermansiaFaecalibacteriumRoseburiaS. thermophilus
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Gut Essentials: Harmful Microbes Panel

From R2,500

Includes H. pylori. A 23-target screen for harmful gut microbes: H. pylori, disease-causing E. coli strains, gut bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, parasites and Candida. The most affordable way to check for H. pylori. Stool sample with home collection kit.

23 harmful microbesH. pyloriPathogenic E. coliSalmonellaParasitesCandida
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Complete Gut Profile

From R4,500

44 organisms: beneficial bacteria, opportunistic bacteria, pathogens, parasites, H. pylori and Candida. The most comprehensive gut test available. Stool sample with home collection kit.

Beneficial bacteria (17)Opportunistic (11)Pathogens (14)Parasites (4)H. pyloriCandida
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Gut Deep Dive and Disease Association

Same comprehensive 44-organism panel as the Complete Gut Profile, with added disease association insights linking your results to conditions in the research literature.

44+ organismsDisease associationsFull pathogen panelParasites
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Which package? To check your beneficial bacteria (probiotic status), start with the Gut Essentials: Beneficial Panel (17 targets). For symptoms like bloating, IBS, post-travel illness or suspected infection, or the most affordable way to check for H. pylori, choose the Gut Essentials: Harmful Microbes Panel (23 targets). For beneficial and harmful organisms together, go to the Complete Gut Profile (44 targets). Or WhatsApp us with your symptoms.

What We Test For

Beneficial bacteria: Lactobacillus species (acidophilus, rhamnosus, plantarum, reuteri, gasseri and more), Bifidobacterium species (longum, lactis, bifidum, breve), Akkermansia muciniphila (gut lining health), Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (anti-inflammatory).

Opportunistic bacteria: Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, C. difficile and others that can overgrow when the balance is disrupted.

Pathogens and parasites: Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Yersinia, Vibrio (bacterial). Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica (parasitic). Helicobacter pylori (stomach ulcers, gastritis).

Related Blood Tests

These blood tests complement your stool analysis and are available at any walk-in branch (no home kit – blood draw required).

Liver and Pancreas Panel

Liver and pancreas function for digestion, detoxification and metabolism.

Inflammation Profile

CRP, ESR and other markers to track gut-related inflammation.

Vitamin and Mineral Panel

Check for deficiencies caused by poor absorption: B12, iron, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium.

All packages include Payflex (4 interest-free instalments). 10% student discount. 10% pensioner discount. All prices include VAT.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a gut microbiome test?
A stool test that analyses the bacteria, yeasts and other organisms in your digestive tract using PCR technology (DNA-based) for highly accurate detection. It identifies beneficial bacteria, opportunistic organisms, pathogens, parasites and H. pylori.
How do I collect a stool sample at home?
Epicentre provides a collection kit with clear instructions. Takes about 5 minutes. Collect a small sample, seal the container, place in the biohazard bag, keep refrigerated and return within 24 hours. No special diet preparation required.
Should I stop probiotics before the test?
For the most accurate baseline, stop probiotic supplements 2 weeks before testing. If you want to check whether your current probiotics are working, test while continuing them.
What if I have recently taken antibiotics?
Wait at least 2 weeks after finishing antibiotics for an accurate baseline. If testing specifically for post-antibiotic damage or C. difficile, test as soon as symptoms appear.
What is H. pylori?
Helicobacter pylori infects the stomach lining. About 50% of the world carries it. It can cause gastritis, stomach ulcers, acid reflux and is a risk factor for stomach cancer. If you have persistent heartburn, stomach pain or nausea, H. pylori testing is recommended. Included in the Complete Gut Profile.
Can gut problems cause symptoms outside the gut?
Yes. Brain: anxiety, depression, brain fog (90% of serotonin made in gut). Skin: acne, eczema, rosacea. Immune: autoimmune conditions, frequent infections (70% of immune system in gut). Energy: chronic fatigue from poor nutrient absorption and inflammation.

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Map Your Microbiome. No Doctor's Referral.

Home collection kit delivered anywhere in SA. PCR accuracy. Results in 5 – 7 days.

Order Home Collection KitWhatsApp for AdviceBook Walk-In (Blood Tests)

Kit pickup and walk-in labs: Observatory (Cape Town), Hillcrest (Durban), Parktown North (Johannesburg). Mon – Fri, 08:30 – 16:00. Practice #1117394.

SN
Medically reviewed by Dr. Samantha Naidoo
MB ChB, FCP (SA) · Medical Director, Epicentre Laboratories

Epicentre Walk-In Labs does not provide medical diagnoses. For diagnoses and advice, consult your healthcare practitioner.

Order Gut Health Kit – No Doctor's Referral