How long should I wait to test after antibiotics?

If you took oral or IV antibiotics directly:

• Wait 4-6 weeks after completing your antibiotic course before testing
• This allows your gut microbiome to bounce back and gives a better picture of your baseline gut health

For breastfeeding mothers who took antibiotics:

• If you're breastfeeding and took antibiotics, your baby can be tested without waiting
• While antibiotics can pass through breast milk, they affect the baby's microbiome to a lesser extent than direct antibiotic use
  Please note the antibiotic exposure through breastmilk in your sample survey

For topical antibiotics:

• No waiting period needed for topical antibiotics (skin creams, eye drops, ear drops)
• These don't significantly affect the gut microbiome