HelloTummy FAQ
Answers before you test.
Everything you need to know about ordering, collecting your sample, understanding your results and protecting your information.
16 common questions, organized by topic.
Getting started
Ordering, collecting and returning your kit.
How long will it take to get my results?
Once your sample reaches our Houston lab, results are typically ready in 2 to 3 weeks. Shipping times vary by location and carrier, but most kits arrive within about 5 to 7 days in each direction.
How do I register my kit?
Each kit includes a unique barcode. Sign in to your HelloTummy account and enter the barcode to link your sample to your secure dashboard. Register your kit before mailing it back.
How do I collect the sample?
Use the included swab to collect a small stool sample at home, place it in the provided tube, seal it and return it with the included prepaid label. Collection takes only a few minutes and is designed to be mess-free.
Do you ship internationally?
We currently ship within the United States only. Contact us if you would like to be notified when international shipping becomes available.
How often should I retest?
Many customers choose to retest every 3 to 6 months to explore changes over time. There is no required schedule or subscription, so you can test when it makes sense for your goals.
Your results
What you receive and how to use it.
What will my results include?
Your secure dashboard may include:
- Bacterial species detected and their relative abundance
- Comparisons with patterns observed across our dataset when available
- Broad bacterial role classifications and diversity metrics
- Consumer summaries and deeper technical reports with citations
- Prioritized, research-linked food actions based on your results
All findings are provided for educational and general wellness purposes.
Can I access downloadable or raw data?
Your portal may include downloadable result files for spreadsheet or third-party analysis. Raw sequencing and supporting quality-control files can also be requested from our team when available.
How are my food actions selected?
HelloTummy looks for results that appear atypical or may benefit from improvement, then prioritizes practical actions supported by the most relevant and confident evidence available. Every recommendation remains linked to its supporting references.
Science and methodology
How we generate and interpret your results.
What type of science do you use?
We use long-read 16S rRNA gene sequencing in our Houston laboratory. Reading nearly the full 16S gene helps identify bacteria at the species level when the sequence supports it, while also measuring bacterial composition and diversity.
This method supports educational microbiome insights and is not sufficient for medical diagnosis.
Why use long-read 16S instead of shotgun metagenomics?
Most independently validated microbiome findings that can guide current food actions are tied to species. Long-read 16S gives us species-level resolution when supported at a lower cost than shotgun metagenomics, helping keep testing and retesting accessible.
Shotgun metagenomics measures a broader range of genes and organisms, but that added data does not always change the practical actions we can support today.
Do you test for pathogens?
Our sequencing may detect bacterial species that include pathogenic strains in scientific literature. We show these findings and their relative abundance for educational context only.
Long-read 16S generally cannot confirm a specific strain, infection or clinically significant pathogen presence. Speak with a healthcare professional if you have symptoms or concerns about infection.
Privacy and medical use
How your information and results are handled.
How is my information protected?
Your sample is processed using a unique internal identifier, while identifying details such as your name and email are stored separately. Results are delivered through your secure client portal.
Do you sell my data?
No. We do not sell identifiable personal information or identifiable microbiome data. If you choose to opt in, de-identified and aggregated information may be used to improve our algorithms and user experience. De-identified means it cannot reasonably be linked back to you.
Is this a medical test, and will I receive a diagnosis?
No. HelloTummy provides educational and wellness-oriented microbiome insights. It does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, and it does not provide medical advice.
Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about persistent symptoms, infection concerns or other medical questions.
Can children use the test?
A parent or legal guardian must activate and manage a test for anyone under 18. The collection method is the same, but evidence and interpretation can differ for children. Contact us if you need a child-specific report.
Does HelloTummy sell supplements or probiotics?
No. We do not sell supplements, probiotics or pills. Reports may discuss foods, molecules, supplements or probiotic strains found in scientific literature, but our recommendations are not influenced by product sales.
Still have a question?
Talk to a real person.
Ask us about ordering, sample collection or what to expect from your results.