Ever considered donating your poo for cash? It might seem like a strange concept at first, but it is actually a legitimate way to earn money while helping others. It involves either collecting your ‘donation’ at home, and then dropping it off at at collection centre, or visiting a collection centre to donate. Stool donations are then used to help treat a variety of health conditions that other Australians may be experiencing.
While Australia has fewer collection centres than some other countries, the good news is that there are a couple of centres here in Australia that pay donors to donate.
How can I get involved?
While it might sound fairly easy, there a few steps before you can start donating. First of all, you’ll need to pass a screening process. This is fairly extensive to ensure that you’re healthy, and that your stools are what they’re looking for. You’ll also need to live close to the donation centre, so unfortunately this rules out a lot of potential donors who live in regional or remote parts of Australia.
If you do get accepted, then it’s simply a matter of doing your business, and then dropping the sample off.
While it’s not for everyone, if you’re eligible and comfortable with the process, it’s something worth considering as a way to make some extra cash. The pay rate starts at around $25 per donation, and as part of the process, you’ll receive a free health screening.
Who is eligible to donate?
To become a stool donor, individuals must meet specific health criteria to ensure the safety and efficacy of the donations. Potential donors undergo a thorough screening process, which includes medical history reviews, and physical examinations. It also involves stool tests to check for infections and other health markers.
The screening criteria is quite selective, and not everyone is accepted. In fact, an Australian study found that out of 196 potential donors, 80% were ruled ineligible after the initial screening.
Here are some of the general eligibility requirements:
- Donors typically need to be between 18 and 60 years old and in good health.
- No history of gastrointestinal diseases, chronic illnesses
- No recent antibiotic use
- Donors should maintain a balanced diet, avoid smoking, and limit alcohol consumption. Some clinics require donors to adhere to a high-fibre diet, which includes specific foods, and to limit foods that can cause an increase in undesirable gut bacteria
There are also some health conditions and lifestyle factors that will cause potential donor to be ineligible. These include: pregnancy, recent antibiotic treatment, being current smoker, having heart disease, or having high cholesterol.
How much will I get paid?
Payment varies, and is often $25+ per donation. Regular donors can make multiple donations per week, so there’s the potential to make up to $250 per week.
Please note that as of 2024, donors are only able to receive a payment for donations at selected locations in SA, QLD and NSW, but hopefully this will change in the future.
Where can I donate?
At the time of writing, you’ll only be paid for your donation at a couple of selected clinics. These include:
BiomeBank are looking for people who live in South Australia and come into the CBD regularly. to find out more visit https://www.biomebank.com/stool-donation/
For people living in Western Australia, Red Cross in Perth are also accepting stool donations, but at the time of publication, donors do not receive any payment/remuneration.
So, what are the stools used for?
Donated stools are used for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which can be life-changing for people who have been diagnosed with a range of health conditions. The procedure involves transplanting healthy stool into the gastrointestinal tract of patients suffering from severe gut infections, particularly those caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). FMT has shown a high rate of success for chronic bowel disorders.
Researchers are also currently exploring the potential of FMT to treat a broader range of conditions. This includes inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and even certain metabolic and neurological disorders.
If you’re interested in learning more about FMT and to find out what it’s actually like to be a donor, this article is a great place to start: Red Cross Lifeblood calls for poo donations to carry out lifesaving treatments and research