Comprehensive Gut Parasite, Worm & Bacteria Test Panel

Your healthy gut contains trillions of bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses which usually live in harmony with your body. However, sometimes you can pick up a bug that shouldn't be there and can cause symptoms such as:

• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain or cramps
• Bloating
• Feeling sick or nauseous

You’re more likely to pick up a parasitic or bacterial gut infection while travelling abroad or if someone you spend time with has also been unwell. A lot of the time, gut infections are over in a few days, but symptoms can last longer with gut parasites. If this is the case for you, it can be worth taking a test to see what’s going on.

Our Comprehensive Gut Parasite, Worm and Bacteria Test Panel tests for common and important gut infections caused by bacteria, parasites and worms all from one sample. It combines DNA-based PCR testing and stool microscopy to look directly for worms, parasites and eggs. In particular, PCR is much better at detecting Giardia than microscopy alone.

If your test comes back positive, we'll advise you on the next steps.

Limitations of the gut parasite test

It's important to be aware that a stool test is not the best way to pick up pinworms (threadworms). These are tiny, common but harmless thread-like worms that you can sometimes see in stool. If you can see these worms, the recommendation is usually just to treat them with the over-the-counter medication "Ovex" rather than take a test.

It is not uncommon for people to mistake vegetable or other faecal material for a worm. Seeing what you think may be a worm in your stool doesn't guarantee that evidence of a worm (eggs for example) will be seen when the sample is examined under a microscope.

Even when you do have a worm or other parasite infection, there is no guarantee that eggs will be present in the sample that's analysed. It's often recommended to examine up to three separate samples under a microscope to rule out some worm infections.