Gut Health Test

Advanced Home Blood Test Kit

£169.00

The Zinzino Gut Health Test is an at-home blood-spot test that analyzes your gut-metabolic activity using metabolomics instead of a stool sample. This test measures how your body metabolises tryptophan, IPA and kynurenine alongside your gut bacteria.

Key Benefits

Functional output – provides information on selected metabolites related to how your gut bacteria and body work together
Science-backed markers – analyzes three key tryptophan-related metabolites associated with gut, immune, and metabolic processes
Advanced analysis – uses advanced technology for precise results
Balance insights – shows how a gut bacteria-derived metabolite relates to other reported markers
Clear scoring – your results distilled into an easy-to-read Gut Health Index
Personalized guidance – result-based diet and lifestyle guidance, with a focus on fiber and polyphenols, based on your unique results
Simple test – dried blood spot (DBS) collection, no stool sample required

What we measure
This test focuses on three scientifically studied compounds:

• Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) – IPA level – a gut bacteria-derived metabolite produced from dietary tryptophan. Higher levels have been associated in research with markers related to gut barrier integrity and oxidative stress processes. IPA is increasingly recognized as a key marker related to gut microbiota function.

• Tryptophan (TRP) – an essential amino acid obtained from the diet that serves as the precursor (starting material) for both IPA and kynurenine. Tryptophan availability and how it is metabolized can be related to gut function, immune response activity and metabolic balance.

• Kynurenine (KYN) – a metabolite produced from tryptophan through the kynurenine pathway, often associated with increased immune response activity. Higher kynurenine levels and an elevated KYN ratio are associated with immune activation and a shift away from IPA-related microbial metabolite production.

We also calculate these key ratios:

• IPA:TRP ratio – Gut microbiome efficiency –reflects the proportion of dietary tryptophan converted by gut bacteria into IPA, influenced by gut microbiota composition and diet.

• KYN:TRP ratio – Immune stress indicator – a marker related to immune activation and load.

• IPA:KYN ratio – Microbiome immune support – a relative balance score showing the relationship between IPA-related and kynurenine-related pathways in tryptophan metabolism.

Your report also includes a Gut Health Index, integrating all measured markers and ratios into a clear, easy-to-understand overview of your gut-immune-metabolic marker profile.

Why tryptophan metabolism matters

Tryptophan metabolism is increasingly recognized as an important area of research connecting gut, immune, brain, and metabolic processes. Gut bacteria transform tryptophan into a range of indole metabolites, including IPA – a microbial metabolite studied in relation to gut barrier integrity, immune responses, and oxidative stress processes.

Emerging research shows that higher IPA levels are associated with metabolic flexibility, glucose regulation, and immune function. Conversely, when tryptophan metabolism is shifted, more of it may be diverted into the kynurenine pathway – a route often associated with the body’s stress and immune response activity.

This metabolic crossroad between the body and gut bacteria is no longer a scientific curiosity – it is now seen as an important area of research in intestinal and systemic balance. By analyzing your tryptophan metabolism profile, this test provides information about the functional output of your gut bacteria and how it relates to immune and metabolic pathways – helping you make informed diet and lifestyle choices based on your results.

Certified test kit

The Zinzino Dried Blood Spot Test complies with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR) and is manufactured under a quality management system certified to ISO 13485. Compliance with applicable regulatory requirements allows the test kit to bear the CE mark.

Independent laboratory

Your test is analyzed by an independent and GMP-certified laboratory. The fact that Vitas is GMP-certified means that they follow good manufacturing practices. They are a contract laboratory for chemical analysis with 25 years of experience, providing high-quality chromatographic analysis based on cuttingedge knowledge and technology. Included with the blood test is a BalanceTest ID that only you can see. Neither the lab, nor Zinzino knows who submitted the test. At zinzinotest.com your results will be displayed when you enter your BalanceTest ID. If you have completed the questionnaire, you will have access to your complete report. If you have not completed the questionnaire, you will only see your Fatty acid score.

Taking the test
1. Zinzino Test is an approved in vitro diagnostics product for personal blood sample collection at home.

- First wash your hands with soap and rinse well with warm water and dry them.

2. Take out the sample card from the paper envelope. Save the envelope for later use. Tear off the SAVE part on the sample card and take a picture of the test ID. You can only see your test result with your anonymous test ID. Place the card with the two circles facing up on the table.

3. Stimulate blood flow by making big circles with your arm or shaking the hand downwards for 20 seconds.

4. Take out the single-use lancet. Remove the transparent safety cap and the lancet is ready to use. Use the alcohol wipe to clean the tip of your finger (middle finger is recommended). Place the lancet against the lower part of the fingertip facing the collection paper on the table. Push the top of the lancet towards the finger until you hear a click. The lancet will automatically make a small prick in the finger.

5. Do not touch the filter paper with your fingers.

6. Fill one circle at a time with blood. Squeeze your finger gently and wait for a drop of blood to fall inside the circle by itself. If one drop of blood does not cover the circle, allow one more drop from your finger to drip immediately. Leave the sample card in a horizontal position at room temperature for at least 10 minutes for the samples to dry well.

7. Insert the sample card back into the paper envelope. Then place the paper envelope into the metal bag and close it.

IMPORTANT: Do not remove desiccant packet inside the metal bag.

8. Place the closed metal bag into the big envelope with the laboratory address on it.

NOTE! You must put the correct amount of postage stamps on the envelope before you put in the mail box. Register your test code on www.zinzinotest.com. This is the web page where you can see your test result later. It takes 10-20 days until your result is ready.

IMPORTANT: Keep the SAVE part of the card. You can only see your test result with your anonymous test ID.

By submitting my anonymous blood spot sample to an independent chemical analysis lab, I confirm that I understand and acknowledge that it will be analyzed solely for the purpose of generating my individual test results. If you later wish to delete your test code, log in with your test code at zinzinotest.com.