Microba Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive Metagenomic Stool Testing
At Mosaic Medical, we take a functional, evidence‑based approach to gut health. The gut microbiome plays a central role in digestion, immune regulation, inflammation, metabolic health and brain–gut signalling. Our Microba Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive assessment uses world‑leading whole metagenome sequencing to provide a clinically robust, functional view of your gut microbiome, followed by an in‑depth doctor‑led review and personalised plan.
This service is available exclusively through practitioners and includes both the Microba laboratory test and a 60‑minute doctor consultation, ensuring your results are interpreted accurately and translated into clear, actionable next steps.
What is the Microba Microbiome Explorer Test?
The Microba Microbiome Explorer is a whole metagenome (shotgun) stool test developed by Microba, a global leader in gut microbiome science. Using advanced metabolic metagenomics, this test analyses not only which microbes are present, but the genes and pathways they carry.
Rather than providing a simple list of organisms, the Microba platform evaluates:
- The structure of your gut microbiome
- The functional potential of your microbes – what biological processes they can perform
- Clinically relevant health and disease‑risk markers
- Microbial diversity, a key indicator of gut resilience and long‑term health
Results are benchmarked against Microba’s large, deeply characterised healthy reference cohort, allowing interpretation within a meaningful clinical context rather than in isolation.
Why Functional Microbiome Analysis Matters
Microba’s approach reflects the current scientific understanding that microbiome function is as important as microbial presence. Many different microbes can perform similar beneficial roles, and loss of function can occur even when individual species appear present.
The Microbiome Explorer therefore focuses on whether your microbiome is capable of carrying out essential functions such as:
Our understanding of the microbiome has evolved significantly. Knowing which microbes are present is only part of the picture. What matters just as much is whether your microbiome is capable of carrying out essential beneficial functions, such as:
- Producing short‑chain fatty acids
- Supporting gut barrier integrity
- Regulating inflammation
- Interacting appropriately with the immune system
- Communicating with the brain via the gut–brain axis
This approach provides a functional assessment of your microbiome, highlighting not only areas of imbalance or risk, but also resilience and protective capacity.
What Does the Microba Microbiome Explorer Assess?
The Microbiome Explorer test provides a comprehensive overview, including:
Microbiome Health and Diversity
- Overall microbial diversity
- Balance between beneficial and potentially harmful species
- Functional redundancy and resilience
Digestive and Absorptive Health
- Markers of malabsorption and poor digestion
- Indicators of intestinal permeability ("leaky gut")
Immune and Inflammatory Risk
- Assessment of immune activation within the gut
- Markers associated with inflammatory bowel disease risk
- Presence of specific species linked to gut inflammation and colorectal cancer risk
Pathogen Screening
- Detection of clinically relevant bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms
Cardiometabolic and Systemic Risk Markers
- Trimethylamine (TMA)‑producing microbes, linked to cardiovascular disease risk
- Metabolic by‑products associated with systemic inflammation
Gut–Brain Axis Insights
- Microbial pathways involved in neurotransmitter production and neuroinflammatory signalling
A Doctor‑Led Service – Not Just a Test
The Microba Microbiome Explorer is only available through healthcare practitioners, reflecting the complexity and clinical nuance of the data it provides. At Mosaic Medical, we believe this is essential.
Every Microba Microbiome Explorer service includes:
- A 60‑minute doctor review appointment
- A clear, structured explanation of your results
- Integration with your symptoms, medical history and questionnaire responses
- A personalised, evidence‑based action plan, which may include dietary strategies, lifestyle interventions, targeted supplementation and, where appropriate, further investigation
This ensures your results are not only understood, but used effectively to support long‑term health.
Who Is This Service Suitable For?
The Microba Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive is designed as a focused, in‑depth snapshot of microbiome health. It is most suitable for people who:
- Are generally well, but want a deeper understanding of gut health
- Have mild to moderate digestive symptoms
- Are interested in preventative health and long‑term risk reduction
- Want expert interpretation of a gold‑standard microbiome test
This service is not intended to replace a full medical assessment where there are complex, chronic or multi‑system health concerns.
When A Full Initial Doctor Appointment Is More Appropriate
If you have complex or chronic health needs, we usually recommend booking a full initial doctor consultation rather than this stand‑alone microbiome service.
Examples include:
- Long‑standing or severe gastrointestinal conditions
- Multiple ongoing medical diagnoses
- Autoimmune or inflammatory conditions
- Significant fatigue, pain, or systemic symptoms
- Complex medication histories
- A need for comprehensive diagnosis and ongoing medical management
In these cases, microbiome testing may still be valuable, but it should sit within a broader clinical framework, alongside full history‑taking, examination where appropriate, and a wider range of investigations.
Not Sure Which Appointment Is Right For You?
If you are unsure whether the Microba Microbiome Explorer service is appropriate for your situation, we recommend booking a free discovery call with our team.
This allows us to:
- Understand your current health concerns
- Advise whether this test alone is suitable
- Recommend a full initial doctor appointment if needed
- Ensure you receive the most appropriate level of care from the outset
Preparation For the Test
To ensure accurate and meaningful results, careful preparation is essential.
Medications and supplements
- Do not perform the test within 2 weeks of antibiotics, antiparasitics, antifungals or probiotics
- Stop pre‑ and probiotic supplements before testing
- If possible, stop proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), unless this causes significant symptoms
Two days before the test
- Stop aspirin (unless prescribed for cardiovascular reasons)
- Avoid non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Avoid laxatives, digestive enzymes, betaine HCl and antacids
You will receive full written instructions with the test kit, and it is important these are reviewed carefully before collecting your sample.
Pre‑Appointment Questionnaire
Prior to your consultation, you will be asked to complete a detailed health questionnaire. Your doctor will review this alongside your test results in advance of your appointment, allowing for a highly personalised and robust consultation.
Our Clinical Team
This service is offered by all Mosaic Medical doctors, with Dr Stokholm leading on microbiome health, reflecting her specialist focus in this area.
Pricing
- Initial 60‑minute consultation: £360
- Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive test: £429
- Combined package (test + 60‑minute doctor review): £770
The combined package includes the laboratory test, clinician review, and a detailed personalised plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Microba Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive test?
The Microba Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive is an advanced whole metagenome (shotgun) stool test that analyses the gut microbiome at a genetic and functional level. Unlike older microbiome tests that only list bacteria, this test assesses what your microbes are capable of doing, including metabolic, immune and inflammatory functions. It is considered a gold‑standard clinical microbiome assessment.
How is this different from other stool or microbiome tests?
Most stool tests look at a limited number of organisms or rely on older sequencing techniques. The Microba Microbiome Explorer uses whole metagenome sequencing, allowing:
- Species‑level identification of microbes
- Assessment of microbial genes and functional pathways
- Comparison against a large, healthy reference population
- Clinically meaningful interpretation rather than raw data
This provides a far deeper and more actionable understanding of gut health.
What health issues can the Microba Microbiome Explorer assess?
This test provides insights into multiple areas of health, including:
- Digestive symptoms and gut health
- Microbial diversity and resilience
- Risk markers associated with inflammatory bowel disease
- Markers linked to colorectal cancer risk
- Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
- Immune activation and inflammation
- Cardiovascular risk markers, including trimethylamine (TMA) producers
- Gut–brain axis function and neurotransmitter pathways
It can be used both for investigation of symptoms and for preventative health optimisation.
Does this test diagnose disease?
No. The Microba Microbiome Explorer alone does not diagnose medical conditions and is not designed for full medical management of active disease.
It provides a single, detailed snapshot of microbiome structure and function, highlighting risk patterns, imbalances and protective factors that may influence long‑term health. Results are interpreted in a preventative and functional context rather than as a standalone diagnostic tool.
For diagnosis, complex decision‑making or management of established medical conditions, a full initial doctor consultation is required.
Why is a doctor review included?
Microbiome data is complex and can be misleading without expert interpretation. This test is only available to practitioners to ensure results are used responsibly.
Your 60‑minute doctor review ensures:
- Accurate interpretation of results
- Integration with your symptoms and health history
- Clear explanation in understandable language
- A personalised, evidence‑based action plan
This approach turns data into meaningful, safe clinical guidance.
Who is this test suitable for?
This service is most appropriate if you:
- Are interested in optimising gut health and overall wellbeing
- Have mild or intermittent digestive symptoms
- Want a preventative assessment rather than diagnostic work‑up
- Are looking for a clinician‑led interpretation of microbiome data
If you have complex or chronic health issues, a full initial doctor appointment is usually more appropriate.
How do I prepare for the stool test?
To ensure accurate results, preparation is essential:
- Do not complete the test within 2 weeks of antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics or probiotics
- Stop pre‑ and probiotic supplements before testing
- Avoid proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) if possible, unless stopping causes significant symptoms
Two days before collection:
- Avoid aspirin (unless prescribed for cardiovascular reasons)
- Avoid NSAIDs, laxatives, digestive enzymes, betaine HCl and antacids
Full instructions are provided with the test kit and should be followed carefully.
Will I need to complete any forms before my appointment?
Yes. You will be sent a detailed health questionnaire before your consultation. Your doctor will review this alongside your test results in advance, allowing for a more personalised and efficient appointment.
How long does it take to get results?
Once your sample is returned to the laboratory, results are typically available within approximately 4 weeks.
How much does the Microba Microbiome Explorer service cost?
- Initial 60‑minute doctor consultation: £360
- Microba Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive test: £429
- Combined package (test + doctor review): £770
The combined package includes the laboratory analysis, clinician interpretation and a personalised action plan.
Who will review my results?
All Mosaic Medical doctors offer this service, with Dr Stokholm leading on microbiome health, reflecting her specialist.
How do I book the Microba Microbiome Explorer assessment?
To book the Microba Microbiome Explorer – Comprehensive service, please click here
If you have complex symptoms or long‑standing health concerns, we recommend arranging a free discovery call first. This helps us determine whether this focused microbiome snapshot is suitable, or whether a full initial doctor consultation would better support your needs.