Essentials collection guide
Our collection kit is designed to be simple and stress-free with clear steps to guide you along the way.

1. Prepare
Essential things to know before you take your sample
01
Maintain your usual diet
Avoid starting new routines, supplements, or medications unless directed by your healthcare practitioner.
02
Ensure your kit is complete
Double check that you’ve received all components of the kit. Your instruction booklet will list all the items you need.
03
Avoid alcohol and NSAIDs
Alcohol or pain management like ibuprofen or aspirin can affect your results. Avoid these before testing unless otherwise directed by a healthcare practitioner.
04
Allow 30 minutes
When you are ready to take your sample, allow 30 minutes to complete the whole process. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to call us!

2. Collect
For clear, step-by-step guidance to collecting your sample in watch the related video below.
Instructions (AU)
Instructions (UK)

3. Pack & Send
Essential things to do after you take your sample
01
Seal your sample
Place and seal your sample in the pre-paid enveloped supplied with your kit.
02
Send the package
Return your sample over the counter at your local post office. It’s essential you do this on the day you took your sample.
03
We’ll do the science
Your sample will be safely delivered to our accredited laboratory for analysis.
04
Results ready
Once ready, your results will be shared with your healthcare practitioner. They will guide you through the results and share the report with you.

Related FAQs
Find answers to the questions we hear most often. From our technology and products to accreditation, partnerships and the future of Microba.
Is there a video showing how to collect my sample?
You can find the video instructions here: https://microba.com/patients/collecting-your-sample/
We recommend watching the video before collecting your sample, as it covers:
Preparing your kit for collection.
How to collect your sample correctly.
How to package your sample for return.
When and how to post your sample.
If you have any questions after watching the video, please contact our Customer Support team and we'll be happy to assist.
Can I take my sample the day before?
If you are having trouble obtaining a sample in the mornings, you can collect the sample the day before (if the day before is a Sunday or Monday). This is only recommended if you are in a “metro” area. We do not advise using this method for customers in NT, WA, SA, TAS or regional/rural locations.
Collect the sample at the convenient time (Sunday or Monday afternoon or evening).
Make sure the time and date of the sample collection is recorded.
Keep the swab in pouch A at room temperature, and the blue tipped device and pottle in pouch B in the fridge.
First thing in the morning, package up the samples as instructed with the provided frozen ice block.
Take to express post on a Monday or Tuesday morning. Please hand the package over at the counter and don’t post through the post box.
Can I still send my Insight sample back?
No — Insight samples can no longer be processed. We know some customers still have kits on hand, but as we communicated to all customers, we're no longer able to accept Insight samples. If you'd like advice on our current testing options, do reach out and we'll guide you through them.
What is Microbiome Explorer Essentials?
Microbiome Explorer Essentials is a comprehensive gut microbiome profile for overall gut health. It uses advanced metagenomic analysis to assess over 28,000 microbial species, including bacteria, fungi, and protists.
Do Microba Microbiome Explorer kits have an expiry date?
Yes — kits should be used before their printed expiry date, and we recommend returning them within a year of receiving them. While kits are stable for an extended period, using them within their expiry ensures the reagents and preservatives remain effective and the collected sample stays stable until testing.
What is Microbiome Explorer Comprehensive?
Microbiome Explorer Comprehensive is our most advanced test. It includes everything in Microbiome Explorer Extended, plus TGA and CE-certified pathogen and parasite detection panels — giving you the deepest possible look into gut health, microbiome activity, inflammation, and infection.
What is Microbiome Explorer Extended?
Microbiome Explorer Extended builds on the Essentials test with added clinical insight. It combines full microbiome profiling with TGA and CE-certified gastrointestinal markers — faecal occult blood, lactoferrin, calprotectin, secretory IgA, pancreatic elastase, and zonulin family peptides.
Are other products in the Microbiome Explorer range available in the UK?
Yes — all three product types are now available for purchase in the UK: Microbiome Explorer Essentials, Extended, and Comprehensive.
Can I collect a sample the day before posting?
Yes — if you're in a metro area, it's fine to collect the sample the day before posting. We know it's not always easy to get to the post office first thing in the morning.
Here's how to do it. Take your sample on Sunday or Monday afternoon or evening, and note the time and date as per the instructions. Store the swab in Pouch A at room temperature, and the blue-tipped device and pottle in Pouch B in the fridge. The next morning, package everything with the provided frozen ice block, and take it to Express Post on Monday or Tuesday morning. Hand the package over at the counter — don't use a post box.
A note: this method isn't recommended for clients in NT, WA, SA, TAS, or regional or rural locations, because the transit times are too long.
Does Microbiome Explorer test for SIBO?
No — Microbiome Explorer doesn't test for SIBO, and we know that can be frustrating because SIBO is difficult to diagnose.
Here's why. SIBO means there are excessive — often gas-producing — colonic microbes in the small intestine. Microbiome Explorer looks at microbes in the distal colon, and we can't assume the microbes there are also present in the small intestine. The two environments are different.
If SIBO is suspected, patients should be referred for further testing. It's worth noting that there's currently no validated gold standard for SIBO testing across the field.
