Your gut health journey starts now.
We are proud to offer our Microbiome 360°, one of the most advanced microbiome analyses available on the market, setting new standards for understanding your gut health. Our service utilizes cutting-edge shotgun sequencing data to deliver an individually customized, high-resolution report detailing your unique microbial ecosystem.
Microbiome 360° - Premium
- Alpha Diversity, Digestive & Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Gut Health Score & Microbiome Biological Age
- Metabolic, Hormonal, Neurological, Mental Health & Autoimmune, Clinically Relevant Microbial Markers
- Microbiome Resilience & Stability Index, Core Bacterial Species – BIG5
- Yeast & Fungi, Antimicrobial Resistance & Lifelong DNA Bank
Microbiome 360° - Complex
- Alpha Diversity, Digestive & Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Gut Health Score & Microbiome Biological Age
- Metabolic, Hormonal, Neurological, Mental Health & Autoimmune, Clinically Relevant Microbial Markers
- Microbiome Resilience & Stability Index, Core Bacterial Species – BIG5
- Yeast & Fungi, Antimicrobial Resistance & Lifelong DNA Bank
Microbiome 360° - Essential
- Alpha Diversity, Digestive & Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Gut Health Score & Microbiome Biological Age
- Metabolic, Hormonal, Neurological, Mental Health & Autoimmune, Clinically Relevant Microbial Markers
- Microbiome Resilience & Stability Index, Core Bacterial Species – BIG5
- Yeast & Fungi, Antimicrobial Resistance & Lifelong DNA Bank
How to use our Microbiome 360°
Purchase your Microbiome 360° test kit and register your sample.
Once you purchased and received your Microbiome 360° test kit it is time to register your sample on our my.Bactera.de platform.
Collect your stool sample and send it back to us.
Follow our simple guide to collect your sample at home, then use the prepaid mailer to send it to our lab.
Check status of your sample and your results.
In 4–6 weeks, you’ll receive an email notification. Your comprehensive gut health report will be ready for viewing on our platform, my.Bactera.de.
Take action.
Your results are more than just data, they’re a roadmap. Dive into your custom insights and begin your journey toward better gut health with actionable steps designed specifically for your body.
Track your progress to a healthier life.
After 4–6 months of following your plan, re-test to see exactly how your gut microbiome has transformed. It’s the best way to visualize your hard work and see the positive changes in your internal ecosystem.
Why Shotgun Sequencing is far better than 16S microbiome tests.
Microbiome testing has become popular, but not all tests are created equal. Many people assume that every stool analysis works the same way. In reality, the technology behind the test determines how accurate and useful the result will be. The two main approaches are 16S sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. As the only commercial biotech provider in Germany, Microbiome 360° from Bactera, uses shotgun sequencing, because it provides a deeper, clinically meaningful picture of gut health.
What is 16S sequencing?
16S sequencing is a cheap alternative of sequencing used by most providers, looking at one small genetic barcode that all bacteria share. From this fragment, the test tries to estimate which groups of bacteria are present. It is a bit like hearing one sentence from a long conversation and trying to guess the whole story.
What is shotgun sequencing?
Shotgun metagenomic sequencing reads all DNA in the stool sample – not just one small fragment. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Because the entire genetic information is analyzed, microorganisms can be identified at species and often strain level.
In simple terms, 16S is like looking through a keyhole while shotgun is like having the door wide open.
Find your match and compare our Microbiome 360° test kits.
Measures how many different microorganisms live in your gut and how balanced they are. Higher diversity is linked to better digestion, immunity, and metabolic health.
- - An easy-to-understand index summarizing inflammation potential, protective bacteria, and metabolic activity.
- - Your gut can be “older” or “younger” than your passport age. We compare your microbiome to thousands of healthy profiles to estimate biological aging.
Based on your microbiome signature we estimate your risk for following conditions:
Digestive & Gastrointestinal Disorders
- - Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- - Colorectal cancer
- - Celiac disease / Gluten intolerance
- - Obesity & metabolic syndrome
- - Type 2 diabetes & insulin resistance
Based on your microbiome signature we estimate your risk for following conditions:
Metabolic & Hormonal
- - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- - Hyperlipidemia & cholesterol metabolism
- - Gout
- - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Neurological & Mental Health - - Depression & anxiety–related microbiome patterns
- - Chronic fatigue syndrome / fibromyalgia
Autoimmune - - Atopic dermatitis / eczema
Comprehensive Screening
We analyze your microbiome data for the presence of up to 40 DNA signatures associated with clinically relevant bacteria, viruses, and parasites that have been linked to gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, or post-antibiotic imbalance.
Examples:
- (e.g., Helicobacter pylori, Clostridioides difficile, Salmonella enterica, Campylobacter jejuni, Giardia intestinalis, Norovirus, Cryptosporidium parvum, Shigella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Adenovirus).
Estimates how well your gut ecosystem can recover after disturbances such as antibiotics, infections, or stress.
Evaluates whether the key beneficial bacteria that support digestion, immunity, and pathogen protection are present in sufficient amounts.
We screen for clinically relevant fungi to distinguish normal colonization from problematic overgrowth.
We analyze whether microorganisms in your sample show potential resistance to important antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, meropenem, vancomycin, azithromycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Your microbiome DNA data is securely stored so it can continue to work for you in the future. Whenever science advances and we add new pathogens, resistance markers, or disease insights, your sample can be reanalyzed without sending new stool. This means your results grow together with medical knowledge, giving you long-term value from a single test.
FAQs.
Will I need to pay again if new analysis options appear?
No. With the Microbiome 360° Premium package you receive updated results for free.
Does this diagnose medical conditions?
We provide scientific insights and risk associations. Diagnoses must be made by your doctor.
How accurate is this compared to other tests?
Extremely accurate. We are offering one of the most advanced analyses. Shotgun sequencing provides species-level data and detects bacteria, fungi, viruses, and genes—not just bacteria.
Can children take the test?
No. The test is intended only for adults from 18 years old. But we are preparing a microbiome test designed for children.
Will my data be private?
Yes. We analyze samples anonymously and store data securely under GDPR policies and guidelines.
How long until I get results?
Approximately 4–6 weeks after we receive the sample.
Do I need to stop taking probiotics before taking the test?
If you are taking probiotics, it is good to stop taking them 7 days before taking the sample.
Why is Shotgun Sequencing far better than 16S-based microbiome tests?
Microbiome testing has become popular, but not all tests are created equal. Many people assume that every stool analysis works the same way. In reality, the technology behind the test determines how accurate and useful the result will be. The two main approaches are 16S sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Bactera Microbiome 360° uses shotgun sequencing because it provides a deeper, clinically meaningful picture of gut health.
What is shotgun sequencing?
Shotgun metagenomic sequencing reads all DNA in the stool sample – not just one small fragment. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Because the entire genetic information is analyzed, microorganisms can be identified at species and often strain level.
In simple terms:
- 16S = looking through a keyhole
- Shotgun = opening the whole door.
This difference turns a general lifestyle test into a tool that can actually support medical decisions.
What is 16S sequencing?
16S sequencing looks at one small genetic “barcode” that all bacteria share. From this fragment, the test tries to estimate which groups of bacteria are present. It is a bit like hearing one sentence from a long conversation and trying to guess the whole story.
This method can show general trends, such as whether diversity is high or low, but it has major limitations:
- it often cannot identify the exact species
- harmful and beneficial bacteria from the same family look identical
- it cannot detect viruses, fungi, or parasites
- it cannot show antibiotic resistance.
For wellness coaching this may be enough, but for real health questions it often remains too vague.