The idea of earning money by donating stool may sound unconventional, but it’s grounded in a real medical practice: fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). This treatment is used to restore gut health in patients with serious bacterial imbalances, especially recurrent Clostridioides difficile infeksies.
Enter human microbes.org, a platform that claims to connect healthy stool donors with people in need—and offers to pay as much as $500 per sample. With figures like that, many are left wondering: Is this a scientific breakthrough or just another too-good-to-be-true promise?
The Business Model Behind human microbes.org
According to its website, human microbes.org is seeking “elite” stool donors—people with exceptional microbiomes who meet strict health criteria. The company states that fewer than 1 in 1,000 applicants qualify. Those who do, it claims, could earn a full-time income by sending in stool samples daily.
The platform promotes its mission as a way to help patients with serious digestive and even neurological conditions through microbiome restoration. Maar, the process and policies behind this mission have drawn scrutiny from applicants, medical professionals, and regulatory agencies alike.
Applicant Experience: More Red Flags Than Green Lights
Numerous users have described the application process as confusing, excessive, en, in sommige gevalle, invasive. Reports include being asked for detailed personal health information, photos, and even videos showing physical activity—like running on a treadmill for extended periods.
The questionnaire itself includes unusual questions unrelated to gut health, such as whether the applicant has ever had braces or suffers from dandruff. Several individuals who appeared qualified said they never heard back or were rejected months later without explanation.
The site’s contact details are also questionable. The listed address reportedly leads to a restaurant in California, and there’s no clear medical advisory board or verifiable institutional affiliation behind the project.
FDA Intervention and Regulatory Problems
In February 2024, die VS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a formal warning to human microbes.org. The agency cited violations related to the unauthorized promotion and distribution of biological products.
Spesifiek, the FDA found that the company was offering fecal material for use in treating or preventing conditions that go far beyond the agency’s limited discretionary policy for FMT.
The only condition the FDA currently permits for investigational use of FMT without a new drug application is recurrent C. difficile infeksie.
HumanMicrobes.org, egter, had been promoting fecal transplants as a potential treatment for a wide array of disorders—including autism, vetsug, and mental health conditions—none of which are approved indications.
Daarbenewens, the FDA criticized the company’s donor screening process and the lack of medical oversight. By encouraging direct shipments of stool from donor to recipient, the platform bypasses safety measures that are considered critical in legitimate clinical settings.
What a Valid FMT Program Should Look Like
FMT is not fringe medicine. When handled properly, it can be a powerful therapeutic option. But there’s a clear distinction between clinical FMT and what human microbes.org is offering.
In an approved setting, donors are extensively screened for infectious diseases and other risks. Stool is collected and processed under sterile conditions, and patients receive transplants under the supervision of medical professionals.
Delivery methods are controlled—typically colonoscopy, enema, or oral capsules—and the entire process is monitored by licensed staff within regulated facilities.
HumanMicrobes.org appears to remove all of these safeguards from the equation.
Why Data Privacy and Consent Also Matter
Aside from medical concerns, applicants should also consider the implications of sharing sensitive health and lifestyle data with an organization lacking transparency. There are currently no public details on how applicant data is stored, protected, or potentially shared with third parties.
Because the site is not connected to a hospital, research center, or biotech firm, there’s no oversight body ensuring ethical use of the information being collected. The risk isn’t just physical—it’s digital.
Die Bottom Line
There’s no doubt that FMT holds medical value. And it’s reasonable to explore new ways of connecting donors and patients. But based on the available information, human microbes.org raises several serious concerns:
- Lack of clinical or institutional backing
- Unprofessional web presence and contact details
- FDA regulatory violations
- Exaggerated income claims
- Unverifiable success stories
- Extensive, intrusive applicant data collection without clear protection protocols
If you’re interested in donating stool or exploring FMT as a patient, the safest route is through clinical trials registered with ClinicalTrials.gov or reputable hospitals. These programs follow strict ethical guidelines, are overseen by institutional review boards, and are often backed by peer-reviewed research.
As for earning six figures by mailing your poop to strangers? That claim—like many in the health space—warrants healthy skepticism.
In situations where your body, privacy, and health are involved, it pays to ask hard questions and verify everything. With human microbes.org, there simply aren’t enough clear answers.
