humanmicrobes.org: Is This Fecal Transplant Platform Legit or Just Crap?

Fecal transplants might sound like science fiction, but fecal microbiota products are a real, FDA-approved treatment for one specific condition. And humanmicrobes.org claims to make the process accessible by connecting very healthy stool donors with people who want stool.

The site says donors can get paid $500 per stool and that daily donors could earn $180,000 a year. So is it a legit side income, or a health gimmick?

Let’s take a closer look.

What humanmicrobes.org Promises

Human Microbes describes itself as a stool donor bank that recruits donors for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and research. It says it accepts donors and recipients from the US, Canada and around the world.

The bar for donors is high. The site says fewer than 0.1% of people qualify, roughly 1 in 1,000 applicants.

According to its donor page, applicants complete a screening questionnaire, verify their stool type and physical fitness, do a video interview, and then have stool and blood testing. Donors who pass can set their own price, with $500 per stool as the default.

Red Flags All Over the Place

The biggest red flag isn’t the website design or the long questionnaire. It’s how the products reach recipients.

The FDA reviewed the site and found that donors could ship stool products directly to patients, with instructions for self-administration. That means no licensed health care provider is necessarily overseeing donor screening, testing or treatment.

The application is also long and personal. You’ll share detailed health and lifestyle information, so read the privacy policy before you apply and think about what you’re comfortable handing over.

Is It Safe?

Legitimate FMT isn’t something you mail in from home. Done properly, it involves strict donor screening, lab testing and medical supervision to avoid transmitting dangerous bacteria or viruses.

The FDA has issued several safety alerts about FMT, including reports of serious infections linked to inadequately screened stool. It has also approved two fecal microbiota products, Rebyota and Vowst, but only to prevent recurrence of C. difficile infection in adults.

On February 9, 2024, the FDA sent Human Microbes a warning letter. The agency said the site’s claims about treating conditions such as IBS, autism, depression and obesity made its products unapproved new drugs and unlicensed biological products.

The letter also cited “potential significant safety concerns due to inadequate donor screening” and warned that failing to fix the problems could lead to enforcement action, such as seizure or injunction.

What People Are Saying

Online forums include posts from people who say they spent hours on the application and then heard little back. These are individual reports, not verified data, but they match how selective the site says it is.

If you’re hoping for easy money, the odds are long. By the site’s own numbers, almost every applicant is turned away.

Final Verdict: Scam or Science?

Here’s the takeaway.

FMT is real, and it works for recurrent C. difficile infection when done under medical supervision. But the FDA has warned Human Microbes that its products are unapproved and that its donor screening raises safety concerns.

If you’re thinking about donating stool or seeking FMT, talk to a licensed physician first. Look into hospital programs or registered clinical trials. And protect your personal data.

Because when it comes to your health, or someone else’s, you can’t afford to take crap from just anyone.