InnerBuddies combines scientific precision with advanced microbiome technology, so you get reliable insights that truly impact your health.
A one-time deep dive into your gut microbiome. Perfect if you are curious about your gut health and want to have a baseline to start with.
All single tests include:
Options:
Multiple deep dives into your gut microbiome. Perfect if you want to track your progress and discover the influence of your lifestyle changes.
All memberships include:
Options:
1. Connect your personal code to a user - Log in via the website and add your kit.
2. Complete the food diary - Fill in the products with corresponding quantities / units.
3. Complete the survey - Fill in the answers with corresponding comments.
4. Take a stool sample - Collect your stool sample and post it in the nearest postbox.
5. View the results - Access the dashboard and check your recommendations.
Our experts provide you with nutritional recommendations based on your analysis and survey that nourish your bacteria functions.
What do you get:
Foods to increase and decrease with their corresponding portion size, intolerance tag, and impact score.
Our experts provide you with dietary adjustments based on your food diary that allows you to make more gut-friendly choices.
What do you get:
Targeted tips and swaps on the food items that you eat and drink during the three days prior of taking a stool sample.
Our experts provide you with pre- and probiotic suggestions based on your analysis and survey that targets your specific needs.
What do you get:
Probiotic strains and prebiotic foods or compounds with their corresponding evidence level, health goal, and safety considerations.
Our partner Noory provides you with daily menus based on our nutrition advice that enables you to easily stick to the recommendations.
What do you get:
A three-month subscription to Noory platform that generates meal plans based on your foods to increase and decrease.
A curated set of peer-reviewed publications relevant to personalized nutrition, microbiome-informed recommendations, and validated analysis standards (16S V3/V4, shotgun metagenomics, SILVA, MetaCyc).
Academic context (Maastricht University)
InnerBuddies’ scope aligns with established academic research in microbiome science and nutritional interventions, including Maastricht University-linked publications (e.g., work involving Prof. Koen Venema who is involved directly with InnerBuddies). Explore UM research output via Maastricht University CRIS .
We often get asked: Can you test other things in the same stool sample? Below is an overview of common stool test types and what InnerBuddies does and does not provide.
Our gut microbiome test uses DNA sequencing to analyze your gut bacteria and translates the results into personalized nutrition advice, food diary and supplement suggestions.
Some providers test a fixed list of about 20 to 40 bacteria using a panel approach. It is often cheaper, but provides a more limited picture than DNA sequencing.
Detection of parasites via microscopy or PCR, typically ordered via a clinician or lab for specific symptoms or travel history.
Marker for intestinal inflammation. Typically requested via a clinician for medical triage and interpretation.
Screening test for blood in stool, usually part of a preventive or medical pathway via a healthcare provider.
Targeted testing for specific pathogens, often relevant for acute symptoms.
Markers such as elastase or fat residue (lab dependent), sometimes used when digestion issues are suspected.
Some advanced programs use shotgun metagenomics to profile microbial DNA in more detail. InnerBuddies offers this as part of its Gut Health Operating System for B2B customers. It is not included in the consumer (B2C) test sold on the InnerBuddies website.
Learn more about the Gut Health Operating System
Not every stool test answers the same question. A budget panel can be useful for a quick, limited snapshot. But if you want to understand your gut flora in more depth and what to do next, a microbiome test based on DNA sequencing is typically more informative.
Tip: Choose a test based on your goal. For medical diagnostics, a healthcare provider is typically needed. For gut microbiome insights and practical guidance, InnerBuddies is the better fit.
Note: InnerBuddies focuses on a microbiome test and personalized guidance. For medical diagnostics such as inflammation markers, occult blood, or pathogens, a healthcare provider is typically required.
Summary: InnerBuddies provides a microbiome test, a gut microbiome test with DNA sequencing and personalized nutrition advice.
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Country Based in which country
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European Union
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Netherlands
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United Kingdom
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United States
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Microbiome Test Kit Basic gut microbiome analysis including Diversity, Keystone Bacteria and Gut Health categories
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€179
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€185
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$279
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Personalised Nutrition Advice Receiving personalised nutrition advice which is based on the individual gut microbiome analysis
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€30
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Subscription only
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Personalised Food Diary Advice Receiving personalised advice on the food diary that consumers fill in
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€30
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Personalised Supplement Advice Receiving probiotics and prebiotics personalised advice which is based on the individual gut microbiome analysis
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€45
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Subscription only
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Personalised Recipe Advice (3-month subscription) Subscription-based access to food recipes which are personalised based on the individual gut microbiome analysis
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€59
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Subscription only
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EU GDPR compliance Does it comply with the EU GDPR regulation and is the data stored in the European Union?
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Annual Subscription (1 Test) Offers an annual subscription with 1 gut microbiome test per year included
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€185
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€225
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£600
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$1188
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Annual Subscription (2 Test) Offers an annual subscription with 2 gut microbiome tests per year included
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€334
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€360
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Annual Subscription (3 Test) Offers an annual subscription with 3 gut microbiome tests per year included
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€459
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€475
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Science-Backed Is the company aligned with a university and does the product provide science-backed results?
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Microbiome diversity refers to the richness and balance of different bacterial species in your gut ecosystem. A diverse microbiome is generally associated with resilient digestion, stronger immune function, better metabolic flexibility, and reduced risk of chronic inflammation. Low diversity, often detected through a gut microbiome diversity test, may correlate with gut imbalance, IBS-like symptoms, reduced microbial resilience, and less stable gut health over time.
Positive bacteria are microbial species scientifically associated with beneficial functions such as fiber fermentation, butyrate production, gut barrier support, and anti-inflammatory effects. These bacteria help maintain a stable gut environment and are often linked to better digestive comfort, metabolic health, and long-term microbiome stability.
In contrast, negative bacteria are species that, when relatively overrepresented, may be associated with gut dysbiosis, inflammation, reduced microbial diversity, or unfavorable metabolic activity. Importantly, microbiome balance—not the presence of a single species—determines overall gut health.
Microbial pathways represent the functional potential of your microbiome—what your bacteria are capable of doing metabolically. These include fiber fermentation, vitamin synthesis, short-chain fatty acid production, bile acid metabolism, and inflammation-modulating pathways. Pathway analysis transforms microbiome sequencing into actionable biological insight, forming the basis of personalized gut health recommendations.
A Healthy Cohort refers to a scientifically defined reference population with microbiome patterns associated with stable gut health, good metabolic function, and lower inflammatory signatures. Comparing your microbiome against a healthy cohort enables deeper interpretation beyond simple bacterial counts.
The Target Group Longevity represents microbiome patterns commonly observed in individuals with long-term metabolic resilience, stable inflammation control, and healthy aging trajectories. Aligning your microbiome toward this profile is a core objective of personalized microbiome optimization and preventive gut health strategies.
This is exclusive InnerBuddies IP.
The Gut Microbiome Health Index (GMHI) is a composite score derived from microbiome composition patterns observed in large population datasets. It reflects how closely your microbiome profile aligns with patterns typically seen in healthier gut ecosystems versus dysbiotic profiles. A higher GMHI generally indicates stronger microbial balance, while a lower score may suggest areas where personalized nutrition and lifestyle adjustments could support improvement.
InnerBuddies has an exclusive IP license from EAFIT University in Latin America to use their GMHI index in its platform.
Your nutrition recommendations are generated using advanced analysis of your gut microbiome composition, bacterial diversity, and functional metabolic pathways, combined with insights from your 3-day food diary. InnerBuddies links real dietary intake data with microbiome functional pathway activity to understand how your gut bacteria interact with nutrients such as fiber, polyphenols, fats, and carbohydrates. This unique data-driven approach enables precise, microbiome-based nutrition guidance tailored to your individual microbial profile. All recommendations are developed within evidence-based nutritional frameworks and reviewed under the professional boundaries established by our dietician team, ensuring safe, practical, and personalized dietary advice that supports gut health, microbial balance, and metabolic function.
This is exclusive InnerBuddies IP.
Your supplement recommendations are based on scientifically validated probiotic strains and targeted prebiotic fibers supported by clinical research. We analyze your gut microbiome profile to identify beneficial bacteria that may be underrepresented and map these findings to specific probiotic strains and complementary prebiotics known to support microbial balance. In addition, we consider the documented objectives and target populations for which each probiotic strain has been studied, helping align recommendations with your individual microbiome characteristics and nutritional context. This strain-level, evidence-based approach focuses on precision rather than generic probiotics, supporting beneficial bacteria, gut microbiome stability, and digestive function. All suggested probiotics and prebiotics are selected based on scientific evidence and microbiome compatibility.
This is exclusive InnerBuddies IP.
We collaborate with leading laboratories, research institutes, and innovation hubs to ensure accurate testing, scientific results, and personalised recommendations.
Struggling with abdominal pain, low energy, or irregular digestion? Your gut microbiome could be out of balance – but generic diets won’t fix it.
Our analysis identifies which bacterial pathways need support, which foods your gut thrives on, and what supplements can make a big difference.
✅ Fewer intestinal issues
✅ Better mood & more energy
✅ Improved overall wellbeing
Answers to the most common questions about the InnerBuddies gut microbiome test, methodology, and privacy.
A gut microbiome test is a stool-based laboratory analysis that examines the trillions of bacteria living in your digestive system. Our at-home microbiome test uses advanced DNA sequencing to measure bacterial diversity, beneficial and harmful microbes, and overall gut health. The results help you understand digestion, metabolism, immunity, and how your microbiome may influence symptoms like bloating, low energy, or gut imbalance.
Our microbiome test kit is simple to use at home. You collect a small stool sample, send it to our certified laboratory using the prepaid return package, and we perform DNA sequencing of your gut bacteria. Within a few weeks, you receive a detailed microbiome report with personalized nutrition and lifestyle recommendations to improve your gut health.
Our gut microbiome analysis measures bacterial diversity, key beneficial bacteria, potentially harmful bacteria, and important microbial functions linked to digestion, metabolism, and inflammation. The test also evaluates your overall gut health score and identifies areas where your microbiome may be imbalanced (dysbiosis).
Our microbiome test uses validated DNA sequencing technology (16S rRNA sequencing) performed in ISO-certified laboratories. This method is widely used in scientific microbiome research and provides a reliable overview of your gut bacterial composition. While microbiome testing is not a medical diagnostic tool, it offers valuable insights for optimizing nutrition and gut health.
A gut microbiome test is helpful for people who experience digestive issues such as bloating, irregular bowel movements, or gut discomfort, as well as individuals interested in optimizing their health, metabolism, and immune function. Many people use microbiome testing to better understand how diet, lifestyle, and supplements affect their gut bacteria.
A microbiome test cannot diagnose medical conditions, but it can reveal imbalances in gut bacteria that are often associated with digestive symptoms such as bloating, irregular digestion, and gut discomfort. Understanding your microbiome may help guide dietary and lifestyle changes that support gut balance and overall digestive health.
The gut microbiome changes over time due to diet, lifestyle, antibiotics, and environment. Many people repeat a microbiome test every few months to track progress and see how their gut bacteria respond to nutrition and lifestyle changes. Longitudinal testing provides deeper insight into improving gut health over time.
Our microbiome test combines advanced DNA sequencing, scientific gut health analysis, and personalized nutrition guidance. Instead of only showing raw bacteria data, we translate your microbiome into clear insights and actionable recommendations designed to help improve digestion, metabolism, and overall gut balance.
After your sample arrives at our laboratory, microbiome sequencing and analysis typically takes 3 to 4 weeks. Once complete, you will receive an email and will receive access to your full gut microbiome report online, including your gut health score, bacterial diversity, and personalized recommendations.
Improving your gut microbiome usually involves dietary changes, increasing fiber intake, consuming prebiotics and probiotics, reducing processed foods, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Your personalized microbiome report provides tailored recommendations based on your unique gut bacteria composition.
Microbiome testing provides a snapshot of gut bacteria at the time of sampling. Results can vary with diet, recent illness, travel, medications, and sample collection. It is not a diagnostic test and should not replace medical evaluation for persistent or severe symptoms.
A microbiome test does not diagnose disease, does not replace colonoscopy or clinical labs, and typically does not directly measure viruses or parasites unless explicitly included. It focuses on bacterial patterns and gut health insights for nutrition guidance.
Yes. Antibiotics can significantly alter gut bacteria. For the most meaningful baseline, it’s often recommended to avoid testing immediately after antibiotics and to consider retesting later to track recovery (follow your clinician’s advice if you have a medical condition).
Samples are analyzed in a ISO-certified professional laboratory in Austria using standardized sequencing workflows (Illumina MiSeq) and quality-control steps. The goal is reproducible measurement of bacterial composition and diversity from stool samples.
Reliability depends on correct sample collection, safe transport, laboratory QC, and validated bioinformatics. We use standardized protocols and quality checks to detect insufficient sequencing depth or low-quality reads before producing your report.
16S sequencing is widely used in scientific research for profiling gut bacteria. It is best suited for microbiome composition and diversity insights, not as a stand-alone medical diagnostic tool.
Recommendations are based on your microbiome profile combined with your questionnaire and your 3-day food diary. The output focuses on actionable nutrition and supplement guidance aligned with current microbiome science.
No. Recommendations are educational and intended for wellness and nutrition support. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, take medication, or have severe symptoms, you should consult a qualified healthcare professional before making major changes.
Your personal data and test results are handled according to applicable privacy and security standards, and we aim for GDPR-aligned processing for EU customers. You should review the privacy policy for details on retention, deletion, and consent controls.
You can request deletion of your personal account data and results according to the deletion process described in the privacy policy. This supports transparency and user control.
A gut microbiome test analyzes the bacteria and microorganisms living in your digestive system. A gut health test is a broader term that may include microbiome analysis as well as other digestive health indicators. The InnerBuddies test focuses on gut microbiome analysis to provide personalized nutrition insights and recommendations.
A gut bacteria test identifies the types of bacteria living in your gut microbiome. By analyzing these bacteria, the test can provide insights into digestion, microbial balance, metabolism, and immune support. Understanding your gut bacteria composition can help guide personalized nutrition and lifestyle choices.
Yes, gut microbiota testing and microbiome testing refer to the same concept. Both analyze the community of microorganisms living in the digestive tract. These microorganisms, especially gut bacteria, influence digestion, immune function, and overall gut health.
A gut microbiome test kit allows you to collect a small stool sample at home. The sample is placed in a collection tube provided in the kit and then sent to the laboratory for microbiome analysis. After sequencing and analysis, the results are provided through an online dashboard.
A gut health test kit usually contains a stool sample collection tube, detailed instructions, and packaging to send the sample to the laboratory. Once the sample arrives at the lab, microbiome sequencing identifies the gut bacteria present and generates a personalized gut health report.
A microbiome testing kit is designed to analyze the microorganisms living in your gut. By sequencing bacterial DNA from a stool sample, the test identifies microbial species and provides insights into gut microbiome composition, diversity, and balance.
A gut flora test measures the microorganisms living in the digestive tract. Gut flora, also called the gut microbiome or gut microbiota, plays a role in digestion, immune regulation, and metabolism. The test identifies bacterial species and evaluates microbial diversity.
Yes, a gut test at home is possible using a gut microbiome test kit. You collect a small stool sample at home and send it to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory identifies the gut bacteria present and provides a report with personalized insights.
Modern gut bacteria testing uses DNA sequencing technologies to analyze bacterial DNA from stool samples. This allows laboratories to identify many bacterial species present in the gut microbiome and generate detailed insights about microbial composition.
After sending your sample to the laboratory, gut microbiome testing usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. The stool sample is processed, bacterial DNA is sequenced, and the microbiome composition is analyzed before the results are made available in a report or dashboard.
Anyone interested in improving digestion, understanding their gut bacteria, or optimizing nutrition may benefit from a gut microbiome test. It can be particularly helpful for people experiencing digestive symptoms or wanting to better understand their gut health.
A gut testing kit is used to analyze the microorganisms living in your digestive system. By identifying the bacteria present in the gut microbiome, the test can provide insights into microbial diversity, gut balance, and potential areas for nutritional improvement.
A gut microbiome test kit provides detailed information about the bacteria living in your gut. Because different bacteria interact with foods in different ways, the results can be used to generate personalized nutrition advice aimed at supporting a balanced microbiome.
Yes, a gut flora test and a gut bacteria test generally refer to the same concept. Both analyze the microorganisms living in the digestive tract. The term gut flora is an older term, while gut microbiome or gut microbiota is now more commonly used in science.
Gut bacteria play a key role in digestion, nutrient metabolism, immune regulation, and interactions with diet. A balanced gut microbiome supports digestive health and overall wellbeing, which is why many people choose to perform microbiome testing.
A gut microbiome test shows the types of bacteria and microorganisms living in your digestive system. By analyzing bacterial DNA from a stool sample, the test identifies microbial species, evaluates microbiome diversity, and provides insights into gut health, digestion, and interactions with diet.
You can test your gut microbiome at home using a gut microbiome test kit. The kit allows you to collect a small stool sample and send it to a laboratory where DNA sequencing is used to identify the bacteria living in your gut microbiota.
The best gut microbiome test is one that uses reliable DNA sequencing technology, analyzes microbial diversity, and provides clear personalized insights. A high-quality gut microbiome test should also include a simple home collection kit and a detailed report explaining the results.
A microbiome test works by sequencing bacterial DNA from a stool sample. The sample is analyzed in a laboratory to identify the microorganisms living in the gut microbiome and evaluate their relative abundance and diversity.
A gut bacteria test measures many bacterial species that live in the digestive system. These include beneficial bacteria involved in digestion as well as other microbes that may influence gut balance and microbial diversity.
A gut microbiome test can provide insights into the composition of your gut bacteria, which play an important role in digestion. By understanding your microbiome, you may be able to make dietary choices that support a healthier digestive system.
Many people choose to take a gut microbiome test once to understand their gut bacteria. Others repeat microbiome testing after making dietary or lifestyle changes to see how their gut microbiota composition evolves over time.
Microbial diversity refers to the variety of bacterial species living in the gut microbiome. A gut test often measures microbial diversity because a diverse microbiome is generally associated with a more balanced gut ecosystem.
Gut microbiome testing is based on scientific methods such as DNA sequencing used in microbiology research. These technologies allow laboratories to identify bacteria present in stool samples and study how the gut microbiome relates to health and diet.
Yes, diet strongly influences gut bacteria. The foods you eat provide nutrients that help certain microbial species grow. Changes in diet can therefore influence the composition of the gut microbiome over time.
Most gut microbiome tests require a stool sample. The sample contains bacteria from the digestive system, which can then be analyzed using DNA sequencing to determine the composition of the gut microbiota.
Gut microbiome sequencing is a laboratory technique used to identify microorganisms living in the digestive system. By analyzing bacterial DNA from stool samples, scientists can determine which microbes are present in the gut microbiome.
A gut test evaluates microbiome balance by analyzing the types and relative abundance of bacteria in the gut. It also examines microbial diversity and how different bacterial groups contribute to the overall microbiome ecosystem.
Yes, gut bacteria testing can show how the microbiome changes over time. Because diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors influence gut bacteria, repeated microbiome tests can reveal shifts in microbial composition.
A microbiome test kit is designed to be simple and convenient. The kit includes instructions and tools to collect a stool sample safely at home before sending it to the laboratory for analysis.
The gut microbiome plays a role in digestion, metabolism, and immune interactions. The microorganisms living in the digestive tract interact with food and nutrients, influencing how the body processes them.
Gut bacteria refer specifically to bacterial species in the digestive system. Gut microbiota is a broader term describing all microorganisms in the gut, including bacteria and other microbes.
A gut microbiome report typically includes information about bacterial species detected in the stool sample, microbial diversity, and insights about the overall microbiome composition.
Yes, most gut tests evaluate microbiome diversity by analyzing the variety and abundance of bacterial species present in the digestive system.
Microbiome testing typically uses DNA sequencing technologies that analyze bacterial genetic material in stool samples to identify microbial species.
Scientists analyze the gut microbiome to understand how microorganisms influence digestion, metabolism, immune function, and interactions with diet.
A gut microbiome test can provide information about the microorganisms living in the digestive system, which may help guide personalized dietary recommendations.
Gut microbiome results represent the composition of your microbiota at the time of testing. Because gut bacteria can change over time, results may evolve with diet and lifestyle changes.
Gut bacteria are influenced by diet, lifestyle, environment, medications, and other factors that shape the microbiome ecosystem.
Yes, gut microbiome tests can be repeated. Some people retest after dietary or lifestyle changes to observe how their gut microbiota has changed.
Yes, after collecting the stool sample at home, the sample is sent to a laboratory where DNA sequencing and microbiome analysis are performed.
Gut microbiome composition describes the types and relative abundance of microorganisms living in the digestive system.
Gut bacteria interact with food components such as dietary fiber and other nutrients, helping break them down and influencing metabolic processes.
Repeated microbiome testing can help track changes in gut bacteria composition over time, especially after dietary or lifestyle adjustments.
Microbiome testing kits are becoming popular because they allow people to analyze their gut microbiome from home and learn more about the microorganisms living in their digestive system.
