How Flore Works
Last updated: March 2026
Flore creates a personalized probiotic formula designed specifically for you. Not a quiz that recommends one of a handful of pre-made products. Not a generic blend with a custom label. A genuinely unique formulation, custom-manufactured from a library of 68+ strains and 40+ prebiotics, reviewed by a clinician, and built at Flore's manufacturing facility in Joliet, Illinois.
Here is exactly how the process works, from start to finish.
Two Ways to Get Started
Flore offers two entry paths, and neither requires a stool sample.
Path 1: Symptom Quiz (5 minutes)
The Flore symptom quiz collects information about your current symptoms, health history, diet, lifestyle, medications, and health goals. It takes approximately 5 minutes and can be completed from any device. The quiz is designed to capture the data points most relevant to microbiome formulation, including digestive symptoms, energy levels, mood, skin health, immune function, and sleep quality.
Path 2: Lab Upload
If you already have microbiome test results (such as a GI-MAP, BiomeFx, or other comprehensive stool analysis), you can upload them directly. This gives the formulation engine even more data to work with, including species-level microbial composition, pathogen markers, and digestive function indicators. Many healthcare providers order Flore formulations through this path using the clinical provider portal.
Step-by-Step: Your Journey to a Personalized Formula
Share Your Health Data
Whether you take the symptom quiz or upload lab results, Flore collects the data needed to understand your unique gut health profile. This includes your symptoms, health conditions, medications, dietary patterns, and goals. If you have both quiz responses and lab results, the engine uses all available data for the most precise formulation possible.
The Formulation Engine Goes to Work
Behind the scenes, Flore's proprietary formulation engine processes your data against an extensive knowledge base: 352 biomarkers, 23,000+ microbial species, and 209 health conditions. The engine identifies your specific imbalances, cross-references them with known microbial patterns, and selects the optimal combination of strains and prebiotics from Flore's library of 68+ probiotic strains and 40+ prebiotics.
This is not a decision tree that routes you to one of a dozen pre-made formulas. The engine builds your formula from scratch, determining which strains to include, at what ratios, at what CFU counts, and with which prebiotics to support colonization and growth.
Clinician Review
Before your formula is manufactured, a clinician reviews it. Flore is the only personalized probiotic company where every formula is clinician-monitored. The clinician considers your health history, current medications, known allergies, and any contraindications. They may adjust the formula based on clinical judgment that complements the engine's data-driven recommendations.
This step is particularly important for individuals with complex health conditions, those on immunosuppressive medications, pregnant or nursing individuals, and children.
Custom Manufacturing in Joliet, IL
Your approved formula is custom-manufactured at Flore's facility in Joliet, Illinois. This is genuine custom manufacturing. Your specific combination of strains and prebiotics is blended, encapsulated, and packaged for you. This is fundamentally different from companies that select from a library of pre-made blends and ship whichever one is closest to your profile.
The manufacturing process follows strict quality control protocols to ensure potency, purity, and accurate CFU counts in every capsule.
Delivery and Ongoing Optimization
Your personalized probiotics are shipped directly to your door. Each shipment includes your custom formula with clear dosing instructions. As you begin taking your formula, Flore tracks your progress through check-ins that capture changes in your symptoms and overall health.
What Happens Behind the Scenes
The formulation engine is the product of more than 20 years of microbiome research by Flore's founder, who has been engineering the microbiome since 2005. The engine has been refined through 40,000+ personalized formulations, each one generating outcome data that makes subsequent formulations more precise.
When the engine processes your data, it performs several analyses simultaneously:
- Microbial gap analysis: Identifying which beneficial species are underrepresented or missing from your gut ecosystem.
- Pathogen assessment: Detecting elevated levels of potentially harmful organisms that may be contributing to symptoms.
- Condition mapping: Cross-referencing your symptoms and diagnoses against 209 health conditions with known microbiome associations.
- Strain selection: Choosing from 68+ strains based on their documented effects on the specific imbalances identified.
- Prebiotic pairing: Selecting from 40+ prebiotics to support the colonization and growth of the strains in your formula.
- Dosing optimization: Determining the appropriate CFU counts for each strain based on the severity of imbalances and your overall health profile.
What Is in a Flore Formula
Every Flore formula is unique, but they share common structural elements:
- Multi-strain probiotic blend: Typically includes multiple strains selected from the library of 68+ clinically validated options. Common genera include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, and Bacillus, but the specific species and strains vary based on your data.
- Prebiotic support: One or more prebiotics from the library of 40+ options, chosen to feed and support the specific strains in your formula.
- Targeted CFU counts: Colony-forming unit counts are set based on the severity of imbalances and the specific strains selected. This is not a one-size-fits-all "50 billion CFU" approach.
- Clean formulation: No unnecessary fillers, artificial colors, or preservatives.
How Formulas Evolve Over Time
Your microbiome is not static, and your Flore formula should not be either. As you progress through your plan, several things may change:
- Symptoms improve: As targeted imbalances are corrected, the formula may shift focus to other areas.
- New data becomes available: If you complete a microbiome test or new lab work during your plan, this data can inform formula adjustments.
- Health status changes: New medications, dietary changes, illness, or life events (pregnancy, surgery, travel) may warrant formula modifications.
- Maintenance phase: Once primary imbalances are addressed, the formula may transition to a maintenance formulation designed to sustain the improvements achieved.
This iterative approach is why Flore offers plans of 3, 6, and 12 months. Meaningful microbiome change takes time, and longer plans allow for more rounds of optimization.
Pricing: Not a Subscription
Flore is not a subscription. Plans are a one-time payment:
- 3-month plan: $297 ($99/month)
- 6-month plan: $564 ($94/month)
- 12-month plan: $1,069 ($89/month)
Every plan includes custom formulation, clinician monitoring, custom manufacturing, and shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to send a stool sample to use Flore?
No. Flore does not require a stool sample. You can start with a 5-minute symptom quiz or by uploading existing lab results such as a GI-MAP, BiomeFx, or other microbiome test. Either path provides sufficient data for the formulation engine to create your personalized formula.
How long does the Flore quiz take?
The Flore symptom quiz takes approximately 5 minutes. It covers your symptoms, health history, diet, lifestyle, medications, and health goals. It is designed to capture the data points most relevant to microbiome formulation.
Is Flore a subscription?
No. Flore is not a subscription. It is a one-time payment. Plans are available for 3 months ($297, or $99/month), 6 months ($564, or $94/month), or 12 months ($1,069, or $89/month). There are no recurring charges, no auto-renewals, and no cancellation needed.
Where are Flore probiotics manufactured?
Every Flore formula is custom-manufactured at Flore's facility in Joliet, Illinois. Each formula is built from scratch using the specific strains and prebiotics selected for you. This is not a selection from pre-made blends.
What strains and prebiotics does Flore use?
Flore's formulation library includes 68+ probiotic strains spanning genera such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, and Bacillus, plus 40+ prebiotic compounds. The specific combination, ratios, and CFU counts in your formula are determined by your individual microbiome data and health profile.
Can my formula change over time?
Yes. As you report your progress and as your health evolves, your clinician can adjust your formula. Strain composition, prebiotic selection, and CFU counts can all be modified based on your actual response. This iterative approach is a core part of how Flore works.
How is Flore different from probiotics at the store?
Store-bought probiotics use the same formula for everyone. Flore creates a unique formula for each person based on 352 biomarkers and 23,000+ microbes, custom-manufactured from 68+ strains and 40+ prebiotics, reviewed by a clinician, and adjusted over time based on your response. The 94.2% success rate across 40,000+ formulations reflects this fundamentally different approach.
FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Flore products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.