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Photo courtesy of Viome.
Our bodies are hosts to trillions of microorganisms that live together in harmony to maintain our health and ideal body functions. This diverse but symbiotic colony of bacteria, fungi, archaea, etc., is called the human microbiome. Thanks to significant research advances over the last 20 years, scientists are beginning to understand how the human microbiome plays a role in helping and, in some cases, hindering our health.
Health and wellness company Viome delivers this science to our homes through direct-to-consumer human microbiome testing. Viome claims it can give you actionable insights into improving your gut, oral, and whole body health based on its unique analysis of stool, saliva, and blood samples you collect at home and mail to its laboratory for advanced RNA (gene expression) analysis.
As a health sciences communications expert, I’ve conducted over 20 years of research into the ever-evolving science of testing and treatment for a wide variety of human health issues and diseases. So, I’ll help you decide if Viome’s tests are worth their pricey costs — and what you can expect to learn about your health.
Visit Viome’s Website | View Viome on Amazon
Product Name: Viome Life Sciences
Product Description: Viome is a science-based company that offers at-home kits to test your body's microbiomes for wellness as well as health supplements.
Overall Score
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Ease Of Testing
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Pricing
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Speed Of Results
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Customer Support
Pros
- Offers 4 health and wellness testing kits
- With easy step-by-step instructions, collect samples yourself at home and mail them in
- CLIA-certified lab
- Get results within 2-3 weeks
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Test results give you health scores and recommendations
- Customers report good experiences with support
- Some customers feel they’ve been able to improve their digestion, sleep, and mood as well as lower inflammation
- Re-test at a steep discount whenever you’d like
- Partners include Mayo Clinic, UCLA, Mount Sinai, GlaxoSmithKline, and more
Cons
- No tests are FDA-approved
- Replacement kits are $35 if damaged by you
- Some users feel that they received generic (common sense) advice that isn’t specific
Consumer Reviews
This is the aggregate score of reader reviews we’ve received. Have a good or bad experience with Viome? Feel free to leave your own review in the comments. Please note that only ratings with valid review content will be published and counted.
7 Key Features
- Test kits analyze your gut health, oral health, biomarkers associated with early-stage oral and throat cancer, cell functioning, and more
- Analysis uses RNA (gene expression) sequencing technology and its proprietary AI platform
- Website includes instructions and videos on how to collect your sample(s)
- CancerDetect Oral and Throat Test was designated a Breakthrough Device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Scientific Advisory Board includes leading doctors, scientists, and experts from Harvard, MIT, New York Medical College, and more
- Conducts ongoing clinical research into the human microbiome and other areas of study
- Viome Life Sciences raised $54 million in 2021 to research cancer and chronic diseases (company has raised over $175 million in funding to date)
Tests & Pricing
Viome offers three kits that test areas of your body’s microbiome. The company also offers a test kit that analyzes some known biomarkers for early oral and throat cancer detection. I give you the details and pricing of each below.
How can testing our microbiome help?
The human microbiome consists of such microbes as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. Some of these microorganisms are beneficial, while others are harmful and can contribute to disease. In a healthy body, helpful and harmful microbes coexist without problems because beneficial microbes keep others in check. However, many factors can create an imbalance in our microbiomes, which can contribute to health problems. An imbalance in any part of the body’s microbiome can affect multiple areas of our bodies.
Gut Intelligence Test
Photo courtesy of Viome.
Our guts have the largest concentration of microbes in our bodies. Viome’s most popular product, the Gut Intelligence Test, analyzes your gut’s microbiome to detect imbalances that could be contributing to symptoms of an unhealthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as a chronic upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
Based on the analysis of your sample, your results include 20 gut health scores. These insights cover various functions, including digestion, gut lining strength, gut inflammation, microbial diversity, and more. Test results also include personalized lifestyle, food, and probiotic recommendations based on the lab’s findings.
This test requires a small pea-sized stool sample which you can collect at any time of the day. You don’t need to fast or change your diet before collecting your sample.
Pricing
- Gut Intelligence Test Only: Check Amazon for availability
- Gut Intelligence Test + Personalized Prebiotics and Probiotics: $79.95 per month*
*Requires a monthly subscription, which you can pause or cancel anytime after 3 orders. Includes a Gut Intelligence retest kit every 12 orders.
Oral Health Intelligence Test
Photo courtesy of Viome.
The Oral Health Intelligence Test assesses your mouth’s microbiome for possible microbial activity that may contribute to bad breath, inflamed gums, cavities, and more oral health issues. Test results include 16 oral health scores, which help their scientists identify which foods, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics will be most beneficial for your mouth and overall body health. This test only requires a saliva sample, and you can expect results in 2-3 weeks.
Full Body Intelligence Test
Photo courtesy of Viome.
Viome’s Full Body Intelligence Test kit combines its gut and oral health analysis that you’d get with the two previous products plus an assessment of your cellular health. Your test results include 50 detailed health scores shedding light on health functions tied to digestion, oral health, brain and cognitive function, heart health, immunity, metabolism, cellular energy and efficiency, healthy aging, and more. You also receive personalized food, supplement, and prebiotic+probiotic recommendations.
This test requires a few small drops of your blood, a small pea-sized stool sample, and a saliva sample. For the blood portion of the test, you will need to fast; however, for the stool portion, you do not need to fast.
Price
- Full Body Intelligence Test Only: $399.00
- Full Body Intelligence Test + Personalized Supplements and Prebiotics + Probiotics: $199 per month*
*Requires a monthly subscription, which you can pause or cancel anytime after 3 orders. Includes a Full Body Intelligence retest kit every 12 orders.
CancerDetect Oral & Throat Test
Photo courtesy of Viome.
This breakthrough test, which is on a fast track for potential FDA approval, differs from Viome’s other tests in that it’s a detection test for signs of early-stage oral or throat cancer. By analyzing a saliva sample, Viome’s lab may be able to detect molecular biomarkers associated with oral Cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma or OSCC), and/or throat cancer (oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma or OPSCC).
According to Viome’s website, the test’s detection rates are ≥ 90% OSCC sensitive, ≥ 90% OPSCC sensitive and has a specificity of ≥ 95% (however, it’s important to note that this statement has not been evaluated by the FDA). Sensitivity refers to a test’s ability to designate an individual with a disease as positive. A highly sensitive test means that there are few false-negative results. Specificity refers to a test’s ability to designate an individual who does not have a disease as negative. A highly specific test means that there are few false-positive results.
The CancerDetect test is appropriate for people over 50 years old or those over 18 who currently consume or previously consumed tobacco products or vaping. It only requires a saliva sample.
Price
How Does Viome Work?
Viome makes the testing process as easy as possible. Here’s what to expect.
- Order your kit online, which you should receive in 5-7 days.
- Register your test kit on Viome’s website or app. Once you register, you can track when your sample(s) have been received, processed, and analyzed
- Collect and ship your sample to their CLIA-certified lab (all materials needed are included).
- Complete your health questionnaire online.
- Receive your results within 2-3 weeks.
- If you opted for a supplements/probiotics & test kit bundle, you’ll receive your personalized box every month.
- You can also log into your account and add personalized supplements or probiotics at any time (products available depend on which test you took).
More About Viome Supplements
All of the supplements available for purchase on Viome are personalized based on your health scores after sample analysis. Viome doesn’t sell non-personalized supplements.
Precision Preboitic + Probiotic
Photo courtesy of Viome.
Available if you’ve taken the Gut Intelligence Test or Total Body Intelligence Test, this personalized blend of prebiotics and probiotics may help restore your gut and overall health. Depending on your body’s needs, your blend may include the prebiotic apple pectin and probiotics such as some strains of Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bacillus clausii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and more.
6 Benefits
According to Viome, taking this daily supplement may help:
- Support healthy digestive regularity
- Reduce gut inflammation
- Reduce the chance of a leaky gut
- Improve GI upset (especially after antibiotic use)
- Improve skin health and your mood
- Aid in the digestion of macronutrients like carbs and proteins
VRx My·Biotics Oral Lozenges
Photo courtesy of Viome.
Available if you’ve taken the Oral Health Intelligence Test or Total Body Intelligence Test, these oral lozenges are a personalized blend of oral-specific prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics that may help restore your mouth’s microbiome to a healthier balance. Lozenges may include Streptococcus salivarius, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, Lactococcus lactis, Levilactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus crispatus KT-11, and more.
5 Benefits
According to Viome, one lozenge per day may:
- Improve gum and teeth health
- Reduce gum inflammation
- Neutralize bad breath
- Combat oral bacteria linked to periodontal issues
- Boost immune and respiratory tract health
Precision Supplements
Photo courtesy of Viome.
Viome’s Precision Supplements are available if you’ve done the Total Body Intelligence Test. Depending on your results, your personalized supplements may contain such super nutrients as ashwagandha root & leaf extract, bromelain, CoQ10, glucosamine, curcumin, cranberry extract, acacia berry, green tea extract, quercetin, pumpkin seed, among many ingredients. Capsules also include a blend of vitamins and minerals.
4 Benefits
According to Viome, this blend may help:
- Regenerate antioxidant activity
- Nourish cells
- Improve nutrient absorption
- Support a healthy immune response
Always Consult Your Physician
It’s extremely important to never use Viome’s tests (or similar health and wellness at-home tests) as a replacement for medical care. Although Viome’s results give you actionable recommendations based on your test, its website includes this disclaimer.
The information Viome provides is for educational and informational use only. The information is not intended to be used by the customer for any diagnostic purpose and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding diagnosis, cure, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of any disease or other medical condition or impairment or the status of your health.
What Do Viome Customers Think?
As part of our research into any product or service, we at Safe Smart Living scour the web for customer feedback to give you an idea of what real users are saying about their experiences. Viome gets mixed reviews, reflected by its 2.8/5 rating on Trustpilot (36% gave 5 stars, and 34% gave 1 star). I also saw a fairly equal mix of positive and negative customer reviews on Reddit, among other sites. Most of the feedback I found involves user experiences with Viome’s gut health test kit.
Viome’s collection instructions, processing time, customer support, and mobile app get more positive reviews than negative. Themes of complaints include questionable food recommendations and upselling of supplements. However, where Viome really receives its polar opposite reviews is regarding its results. Many customers said they found results extremely helpful, but a fairly equal number found test results too generic and unhelpful. From the feedback I found, most who are using Viome’s supplements say they’re quite effective.
Understanding The Human Microbiome (Video)
The video below by NPR explains in a nutshell how each body’s microbiome works. Researchers are hard at work trying to further understand how these complex systems work in our bodies to help advance the diagnosis and treatment of various symptoms and diseases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions consumers ask most often about Viome. Don’t see yours here? Please ask me in our comments so I can help answer your question.
Are Viome’s Tests Accurate?
As with all at-home testing, results can be somewhat accurate. However, it’s important to remember that the science behind these tests is still evolving. While the scientific world has made much progress in health and wellness analysis (as well as early cancer detection), there’s still much that’s unknown. That’s why it’s crucial to consult your physician about any health concerns you have.
What Is Viome’s Privacy Policy?
Are you concerned about what Viome does with your testing results? According to Viome’s website, the company never provides your information or results to your employer or your health insurance company. The site also states that Viome doesn’t share your individual-level information with any third party without your explicit consent.
What Lab Does Viome Use?
Viome uses its own CLIA-certified laboratory, located in Bothell, Washington. CLIA certification means that the lab adheres to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 regulations, which include federal standards for U.S. facilities that test human specimens for health assessment.
Who Owns Viome?
Seattle-based entrepreneur Naveen Jain founded Viome in 2016 and remains the CEO to this day. Viome is the seventh venture for Jain, who is the founder and former CEO of InfoSpace and also co-founded public records firm Intelius, as well as Moon Express, which aims to take paying customers to the moon, according to GeekWire.
What Is The Difference Between Everlywell And Viome?
Everlywell is a company that offers a variety of at-home tests covering everything from food sensitivities and metabolism to HIV and STDs. Both companies’ tests are based on scientific research, conduct customer sample analysis in CLIA-certified labs, and are involved in ongoing research.
The key differences between these two companies are the type of scientific analyses they perform and the cost. While Everlywell’s tests are significantly less expensive, they don’t analyze your microbiome for a more holistic assessment of your body. Everlywell’s tests focus on very specific measurements of hormones, antibodies, and some blood tests for cholesterol levels (and more) — similar to blood panels you’d get at your doctor’s office. Viome uses a different approach using advanced RNA analysis.
What’s My Final Verdict?
Visit Viome’s Website | View Viome on Amazon
When it comes to at-home testing for health and wellness, I recommend Viome over many similar companies. Viome has developed its products on evidence-based science and partners with highly respected educational institutions and well-established medical companies. And the fact that Viome is now committed to ongoing research into human diseases is a huge plus.
If you’re still not convinced or can’t afford Viome’s high pricing, I suggest reading our reviews of the five most popular gut microbiome tests before making a decision. You may also want to check out our review of ION Gut Support to learn about this probiotic supplement, which may relieve various health issues, including heartburn, leaky gut, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
What health concerns are you dealing with that have you considering one of Viome’s tests? Let me know in our comments.
Why Trust Safe Smart Living?
Sally has over 20 years of experience in human health sciences communications. She has extensively interviewed and reported on many of the world’s top scientists in such fields as genetics, microbiology, bioinformatics, cancer, infectious diseases, and much more. Sally is part of Safe Smart Living’s professional team of experts who test and research products to make our lives smarter and safer for us, our families, and our readers.
