The most advanced gut microbiome technology available - analysing over 10 million microbial genetic data points per sample to reveal the biological ecosystem shaping the health of mothers and babies.
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Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a breakthrough laboratory technology that reads the DNA of every single microorganism living in the gut - not just a selected few. Unlike older testing methods that rely on growing cultures in a lab or detecting a limited range of known organisms, NGS reads the full genetic sequence of the entire microbial community.
The result is an extraordinarily detailed picture of gut health - identifying thousands of bacterial species, archaea, fungi, and viruses, measuring their relative abundance, and revealing how the ecosystem functions as a whole. This is the same technology used in leading academic research institutions worldwide - and it is the foundation of every Kids BioCare gut test.
From a simple home sample collection to a detailed biological report - here is how the NGS process turns a stool sample into 10 million data points of insight.
A small stool sample is collected at home using the simple, sterile collection kit included in your Kids BioCare testing package. The process takes under 5 minutes and is comfortable for both mother and baby.
The sample arrives at our accredited laboratory, where DNA is extracted from every microorganism present - bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses - using validated clinical-grade protocols.
Millions of short DNA fragments are simultaneously sequenced using high-throughput NGS technology. Bioinformatics algorithms then reassemble and identify each fragment against validated reference databases of over 25,000 known microbial species.
Results are presented in a clear, colour-coded report through BioHealthcare Hub, covering diversity scores, species abundance, ecosystem balance, and personalised recommendations. A specialist doctor consultation is included to help you understand exactly what your results mean.
The scale of data generated by NGS is what sets it apart from every other approach to gut health testing. No other commercial test comes close.
Whole-genome shotgun metagenomics & 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing
Minimum 10 million quality-filtered paired-end reads per sample
Identification to species & strain level - not genus level only
NCBI, SILVA, GTDB - updated quarterly with latest global research
Full report delivered in 2-3 weeks from receipt of sample at laboratory
ISO 15189 & UKAS accredited laboratories - same standard as clinical diagnostic labs
Validated collection buffer maintains sample integrity for up to 14 days in transit at room temperature
Delivered via BioHealthcare Hub - colour-coded, downloadable PDF, with specialist consultation
The gut microbiome works differently - and matters differently - depending on your stage of life. Kids BioCare provides tailored NGS gut testing and reporting for both babies and mothers, recognising the distinct biological questions each test needs to answer.
The first three years of a child's life represent the most important period of gut microbiome development. The ecosystem established in these years sets the biological foundations for immune function, metabolic health, brain development, and long-term disease risk. NGS testing gives parents an unprecedented view of how this ecosystem is forming - and whether it is developing the diversity and balance their child needs.
Green = healthy abundance · Grey = developing · Red = concern if elevated
A mother's gut microbiome is not just her own biological concern - it is the primary ecosystem that will be transferred to her newborn at birth. It also plays a direct role in shaping pregnancy outcomes, immune function during pregnancy, postnatal recovery, and the quality of breast milk. NGS testing for mothers reveals the state of this critical ecosystem before, during, and after pregnancy.
Purple = healthy abundance · Grey = low · Red = concern if elevated
The depth of data that NGS provides translates into clinical insights and family benefits that simply are not possible with any other approach to gut testing.
NGS identifies microorganisms to species and strain level - not just genus. This matters because two different strains of the same species can have completely opposite effects on health. Standard tests cannot make this distinction.
1,000+ Species identified per sampleApproximately 75% of the microbial species living in the human gut cannot be grown in a culture dish - which means they are entirely invisible to standard culture-based testing. NGS reads their DNA directly, revealing the full picture.
75% Of gut species missed by culture testsNGS doesn't just tell you what species are present - it measures their relative abundance and how they interact as an ecosystem. This reveals whether beneficial species are dominant, whether harmful species are overgrown, and how diverse the overall community is.
Shannon Diversity index & Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratioBeyond identifying species, whole-genome shotgun NGS can reveal what the microbial community is actually doing - which metabolic pathways are active, which short-chain fatty acids are being produced, and which immune-modulating compounds the ecosystem is generating.
SCFA Short-chain fatty acid production profilingNGS provides precise numerical data on the relative abundance of every species detected - allowing genuine comparison between tests over time. You can track whether an intervention (dietary change, probiotic, or antibiotic course) has measurably shifted the ecosystem.
% Abundance Precise quantification per speciesNGS can detect antibiotic resistance genes within the microbiome - an increasingly important clinical concern for infants who have been exposed to antibiotics in early life. This is not possible with standard gut testing approaches.
ARG Antibiotic resistance gene detectionThe NGS gut test requires only a small stool sample - no invasive procedure, no discomfort. The home collection kit is designed to be simple and parent-friendly, making it safe and practical for newborns, infants, and toddlers at any age.
Day 1 Safe for testing from birth onwardsBecause NGS produces precise numerical data, repeat testing at key milestones - birth, 3 months, 6 months, weaning - creates a longitudinal picture of how the microbiome is developing. Parents can see whether dietary changes and probiotic support are making a measurable difference.
Timeline Testing at birth · 3 months · 6 months · weaningEvery Kids BioCare NGS report comes with a consultation with a GI specialist or biomedical doctor - who reviews your results, explains exactly what the findings mean for your child or your pregnancy, and guides you on next steps. The data becomes insight. The insight becomes action.
Included GI specialist consultation with every reportNot all gut tests are equal. The method used to analyse a sample determines what can - and cannot - be detected. Here is a direct comparison between the approaches available, and why NGS is the only method that provides a complete picture of the gut microbiome.
| Feature | NGS Sequencing Kids BioCare |
Standard Culture Test |
PCR Test | 16S Basic Test |
Stool Antigen Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species identified per test | 1,000+ | 10-30 | 5-20 | 200-500 | 1-5 |
| Data points per sample | 10 million+ | ~1,000 | ~500 | ~500,000 | Qualitative only |
| Detects unculturable species | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Species-level identification | ✓ | Partial | Partial | Genus only | ✗ |
| Strain-level identification | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Quantitative abundance data | ✓ | ✗ | Limited | ✓ | ✗ |
| Diversity & richness scoring | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Basic | ✗ |
| Functional microbiome analysis | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Antibiotic resistance detection | ✓ | Limited | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Detects fungi & viruses | ✓ | Partial | Targeted only | ✗ | ✗ |
| Gut barrier integrity markers | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| SCFA production profiling | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Suitable for infants from birth | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Home collection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Doctor consultation included | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Varies | ✗ |
| Used in academic research | ✓ | Declining | Some | ✓ | ✗ |
| Longitudinal tracking & comparison | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Limited | ✗ |
| ✓ = Full capability · Partial = Limited or targeted capability · ✗ = Not supported · SCFA = Short-chain fatty acids · PCR = Polymerase chain reaction | |||||
A complete, quantitative picture of over 1,000 microbial species - including rare and unculturable organisms - with functional analysis, diversity scoring, and species-level identification. The same standard of testing used in the world's leading microbiome research institutions, now available for families at home.
Culture-based tests and basic PCR panels typically identify fewer than 30 species - and are entirely blind to the 75% of gut organisms that cannot be grown in a laboratory. They provide a qualitative snapshot at best, and no insight into ecosystem diversity, function, or how the microbiome is changing over time.
The Kids BioCare NGS report translates complex genomic data into a clear, family-friendly format delivered through BioHealthcare Hub. Every result is presented with context - so you understand not just what is in your gut, but what it means for your health and your child's development.
Kids BioCare brings research-grade NGS microbiome sequencing to mothers and babies at home - with clear results, expert guidance, and the biological insight that makes a real difference.