Gut microbiome tests in Australia: what each one measures and costs
You can order a gut microbiome test in Australia without a GP referral. i-screen's at-home stool kits run from A$239 for the culture-based Microbiome Check to A$569 for the PCR-based GI-Map and A$599 for GutIQ, which uses shotgun sequencing. The method decides what the report can name.
Last checked by Refer Labs, 24 October 2026
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The code referlabs takes A$20 off your first i-screen test, which can be a gut microbiome kit.
referlabsVerified by Refer Labs on 23 September 2026, confirmed directly with i-screen.
You need an i-screen account and must be signed in at checkout for the code to apply.
See the Microbiome Checki-screen's own terms state that none of its services are Medicare-rebatable or eligible for government subsidy, so the full price is what you pay.
How much does a gut microbiome test cost in Australia?
i-screen sells five gut panels you can order without a referral. The Microbiome Check, the GI-Map and GutIQ differ by testing method; the Gut Health Test and the Platinum panel add more markers or breath testing.
| Test | Price | Sample | Results | What it covers | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microbiome Check | A$239 | Stool, posted kit | About 2 weeks | Grows organisms from the sample and names each by its protein signature: bacteria and yeasts, plus digestion markers such as pH and steatocrit. | See this test |
| Gut Health Test | A$479 | Stool | Not stated | A 95-marker stool panel covering digestion markers, bacteria and yeasts. | See this test |
| Complete Microbiome Mapping (GI-Map) | A$569 | Stool, posted kit | About 2 weeks | Uses PCR to measure a defined panel of organisms by their DNA, with digestion and inflammation markers. | See this test |
| Advanced Microbiome GutIQ | A$599 | Stool, posted kit | About 2 weeks | Shotgun sequencing: reads all the DNA in the sample against a reference of more than 28,000 microbial species, with inflammation, enzyme, gut-barrier and short-chain fatty acid markers. | See this test |
| Platinum Gut Health Test | A$1,200 | Stool and breath, posted kit | About 2 weeks | i-screen's broadest home gut panel, combining stool and breath testing. | See this test |
Culture, PCR or shotgun sequencing: what is the difference?
- Culture (A$239, Microbiome Check). The lab grows organisms from the sample and confirms each by its protein signature. i-screen notes that because it relies on organisms growing, it reports the culturable ones rather than every species present.
- PCR (A$569, GI-Map). Measures a defined panel of organisms by their DNA, so it reports quantities for the organisms on that panel.
- Shotgun sequencing (A$599, GutIQ). Reads all the DNA in the sample. i-screen states it compares the sample against a reference of more than 28,000 microbial species, and adds inflammation, enzyme, gut-barrier and short-chain fatty acid markers.
How does an at-home gut microbiome test work?
- Order online. No GP referral is needed.
- The kit and instructions are posted to you; there is no collection centre visit.
- Collect the stool sample at home and post it back in the prepaid envelope.
- Results typically arrive in about two weeks from when the lab receives the sample, in your i-screen dashboard.
For the Microbiome Check, i-screen lists some prescription medicines to pause two weeks before, unless your practitioner says otherwise, and asks you to stop castor oil, probiotics, laxatives, aspirin, ibuprofen and gut supplements three days before.
What a microbiome test does not tell you
In i-screen's own words on the Microbiome Check page: “This test tells you what's in your gut; it doesn't diagnose a disease or explain what caused one.” Under-18s can use i-screen's home microbiome kits with a parent's or guardian's consent; see the baby and kids' gut tests.
More on how i-screen works, who reviews results and its cancellation terms is in the i-screen review.
Common questions
- Can I get a gut microbiome test in Australia without a referral?
- Yes. i-screen sells gut microbiome tests directly, with no GP referral: you order online and a stool kit is posted to you. Its tests run from A$239 to A$599 for a single kit, read on 24 October 2026.
- How much does a gut microbiome test cost in Australia?
- On i-screen's own site, the culture-based Microbiome Check is A$239, the PCR-based GI-Map is A$569 and the shotgun-sequencing GutIQ is A$599, read on 24 October 2026.
- How long do gut microbiome test results take?
- i-screen states about two weeks for its home stool kits, counted from when the sample reaches the lab. Results are published to your i-screen dashboard.
- What is the difference between a culture test and shotgun sequencing?
- A culture test grows organisms from the sample and names the ones that grow. PCR measures a set list of organisms by their DNA. Shotgun sequencing reads all the DNA in the sample against a reference library.
Keep reading
General information for an Australian audience, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Circumstances differ from person to person, and a registered practitioner decides what is right for you after an individual assessment. Prices change; each figure states when we checked it.
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