Functional Testing · Online Australia-wide
Children's gut microbiome test
Stool kit, from birth to 17 years
A stool test designed for little guts, in two versions: one for babies and toddlers up to three, one for children and teens to seventeen. Collected at home, posted to the lab, read with me.
Children's guts are different, and the reference ranges on an adult test don't really fit them. NutriPath's GutIQ panels are built for this: BabyBiome (test code 2217) for 0 to 3 years and PaediatricBiome (test code 2218) for 3 to 17. Same lab, same collection, with markers and ranges chosen for each age group.
Parents usually come to me with a baby who has reflux, eczema or a tummy that never seems comfortable, or a toddler whose stools are always loose or always hard. With older kids it tends to be bloating, food reactions or a run of tummy bugs. A stool test gives me an actual look at what's living in there and how the gut is working.
I'll say up front that children's health is one of my favourite areas. And a settled gut in a small person tends to change things for the whole household.
Who it suits
Who this test is for
- Babies with reflux, colic or a tummy that never seems comfortable
- Eczema or other skin flares
- Constipation or loose stools that go on and on
- Repeated tummy bugs
- Bloating, pain or food reactions in older children
- A gut that hasn't settled after antibiotics
- Very limited eating alongside gut symptoms
Before you order
A few things I’ll check with you
- Choose the panel by your child's age on the day of collection: BabyBiome for under 3, PaediatricBiome for 3 to 17. If you're unsure, pick either and I'll correct it before ordering.
- Antibiotics or antifungals in the last two weeks will skew the result. We'd wait.
- Probiotics and some supplements are usually paused for a few days before collection. I'll go through what your child takes.
- Collect Monday to Wednesday and keep the sample in the fridge until it's posted.
- The results consultation is with you, the parent or guardian. Your child doesn't need to attend.
- If your child is unwell, dehydrated, losing weight or has blood in their stool, see your GP or go to emergency first.
What you get
What the report covers
Beneficial bacteria
Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium, plus the balance of major bacterial groups.
Pathogens and viruses
Rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus in both panels, with a wider bacterial pathogen screen in the 3 to 17 version.
Yeasts
Candida species.
Digestion
Pancreatic elastase for enzyme output and beta-glucuronidase, with fat digestion (steatocrit) in the 3 to 17 version.
Inflammation and gut immunity
Calprotectin, secretory IgA and zonulin, with a gluten-related marker (tTG IgA) in the 3 to 17 version.
Short-chain fatty acids
Butyrate, acetate, propionate and valerate.
Stool colour and form
Recorded alongside the lab markers, because what you see in the nappy or the toilet is part of the picture.
How it works
From order to results
Get in touch
Use the enquire button below. I'll come back to you within one business day to check the test suits you (timing, medications, that sort of thing), confirm the price and send a secure payment link. Then I place the order with NutriPath.
Your kit arrives
NutriPath posts the collection kit straight to you, with everything you need and step-by-step instructions.
Collect at home and send it back
You collect the sample at home and post it to the lab following the instructions in the kit.
Your results consultation
Results come to me. We then meet online for a 30-minute consultation to go through what they mean and what to do next.
Pricing
What’s included
Every option includes the test and a results consultation with me, so you’re not sitting at home trying to make sense of the report on your own.
Use the enquire button and I'll come back to you within one business day to check the test suits you, confirm the price and send a secure payment link. The consultation is included, so there's nothing more to pay after that.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I collect a sample from a baby?
The kit comes with instructions for each age. For babies the sample is taken from the nappy, and for older children from the toilet using the collection paper provided. It's quick, and nothing is done to your child.
Will it be uncomfortable for my child?
No. It’s a stool sample collected at home, so no needles, no swabs and no clinic visits.
My baby is breastfed. Does that matter?
Yes, and it's worth telling me. Breastfed and formula-fed babies have quite different microbiomes, so I read the report in the context of how your baby is fed.
What happens after the results?
They come to me, and I'll email you to book the consultation. We go through what the report shows, connect it to what you've been seeing at home, and work out next steps together. If your child needs medical follow-up, I'll refer you on.
Do we need to be on the Gold Coast?
No. The kit is posted anywhere in Australia and our consultation is over video.
Not sure which test fits?
Not sure where to start? Book a free 10-minute call and I’ll point you in the right direction.