Unlocking Your Health Blueprint: Advanced Microbiome Testing in Private General Practice

By Dr Mehrdad Bordbar, BMBS MMedSc MRCGP AFMCP Clinical Director, Olivine Clinic, Poundbury, Dorchester GMC: 7456052

The Bottom Line

If you are struggling with persistent fatigue, unexplained digestive issues, or hormonal fluctuations that standard blood tests often miss, your gut microbiome may hold the key. At Olivine Clinic, we are now offering the Microba Explorer Comprehensive—a clinical-grade test that maps 100% of your gut bacteria using advanced metagenomics, moving beyond guesswork to precision medicine.

Why The "Gut" Is The Center of Modern Health

For decades, medicine treated the gut simply as a plumbing system—a place where food is digested and waste is expelled. Today, we know better. The trillions of bacteria residing in your digestive tract (the microbiome) act like a "second brain" and a metabolic organ combined.

While microbiome testing is not yet part of established NHS guidelines or major medical society protocols, the emerging evidence for its utility is compelling. It serves not to replace standard evidence-based care, but to complement it—providing data that helps us reduce trial and error in managing complex, chronic conditions.

The Gut-Brain Axis & Mental Health

Emerging research in 2026 continues to solidify the link between gut health and mental well-being. Your gut bacteria produce approximately 90% of your body's serotonin. Dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria) can lead to systemic inflammation that affects the brain, potentially exacerbating:

• Anxiety and low mood: By disrupting neurotransmitter production.

• Brain fog: Often linked to "leaky gut" allowing inflammatory compounds to enter the bloodstream.

Fatigue, Immunity, and Hormonal Balance

The microbiome is deeply intertwined with your overall vitality:

• Chronic Fatigue & Energy: Certain bacteria are responsible for producing B vitamins and short-chain fatty acids (like butyrate) that fuel your cells. If these species are low, fatigue is a common result.

• Perimenopause: The "estrobolome" is a collection of bacteria that metabolise circulating oestrogen. Imbalances here can worsen perimenopausal symptoms, from weight gain to mood swings.

• Autoimmunity: With 70% of your immune system housed in the gut, a diverse microbiome is essential for regulating immune responses and potentially managing autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s or Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Introducing Microba Explorer Comprehensive: The "Google Earth" of Gut Testing

Microba Explorer Tests

We are proud to announce our partnership with Microba Life Sciences, a world leader in precision microbiome science. Unlike older tests that offer a blurry snapshot, Microba provides a high-definition map of your inner ecosystem.

Why We chose Microba

• Metagenomics Technology: Most standard stool tests use "16S rRNA" sequencing, which is like identifying a forest by counting only the tall trees (genus level). Microba uses Metagenomics, which sequences all the DNA. This allows us to see every tree, shrub, and moss (species and strain level)—giving us a 100% complete map of bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

• Functional Insights: It doesn't just tell us who is there; it tells us what they are doing. We can measure the genetic potential of your microbiome to produce essential metabolites (like butyrate) or harmful toxins (like hexa-LPS).

• Evidence-Based & Accredited: Microba is a company rooted in rigorous science. Their laboratories are ISO 15189 accredited (the international standard for medical laboratories) and NATA accredited, ensuring that the data we base your treatment on is accurate, reproducible, and clinical-grade.

Who Is This Test For?

This advanced testing is particularly valuable if you are experiencing:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea that hasn't responded to standard dietary changes.

• Autoimmune Conditions: seeking to lower systemic inflammation.

• Unexplained Fatigue: or suspected ME/CFS.

• Hormonal Issues: severe PMS, PCOS, or perimenopausal symptoms.

Clinical Note: This test is used to refine your treatment plan. For example, rather than blindly taking a generic probiotic, we can see exactly which beneficial species you are missing and target them through precision nutrition or specific supplementation.

How The Process Works

We have made accessing this advanced technology as simple as possible for our patients in West Dorset and beyond.

1. Consultation: Book an appointment with Dr Bordbar at our Poundbury clinic to discuss if this test is right for you.

2. Home Collection: You will receive a kit with free Royal Mail delivery. You can perform the simple, non-invasive stool test in the privacy of your own home.

3. Analysis: The sample is sent to Microba’s accredited lab for deep-sequencing.

4. Personalised Report: Results are sent to Dr Bordbar. He will review the complex data and translate it into a clear, actionable report during a follow-up consultation.

5. Tailored Plan: We create a management plan unique to your biology—focusing on nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation to restore balance.

Why Choose Olivine Clinic?

Interpreting metagenomic data requires specialised training. Dr Mehrdad Bordbar is not only an experienced Private GP but has also completed the AFMCP (Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice) training with the Institute for Functional Medicine.

This unique blend of conventional medical expertise and functional medicine knowledge ensures you receive safe, holistic, and scientifically grounded care. We don't just treat the symptoms; we look for the root cause.

Selected References & Evidence

To ensure our patients have access to the latest science, we monitor emerging research closely:

1. Mental Health: Frontiers in Microbiomes (2025). "The gut–brain connection: microbes' influence on mental health." Highlights the role of gut microbes in mood regulation and neurodevelopment.

2. Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS): The Jackson Laboratory (July 2025). "Gut microbiome may predict invisible chronic fatigue syndrome." Identified specific gut biomarkers distinguishing ME/CFS patients with high accuracy.

3. Autoimmunity: Frontiers in Microbiology (2025). "The role of gut microbiota in autoimmune disease progression." A comprehensive synthesis linking dysbiosis to immune tolerance breakdown.

Next Steps

Don't let unexplained symptoms rule your life. If you are ready to stop guessing and start healing with data-driven precision, we invite you to explore what your microbiome can tell us.

Book a Consultation with Dr Bordbar Located at 5 Hamslade Green, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DP

• Medical Disclaimer: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Microbiome testing is a complementary tool and is not currently part of standard NHS guidelines. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet or medical treatment.