Viome: A Nurse's Personal Review Of The Popular Microbiome At-Home Test

Understanding your gut health is key to understanding your overall health, but getting even a glimpse into your gut microbiome can be a difficult process. At-home microbiome testing is making it easier than ever to get a baseline understanding of your gut health, and Viome is one of the brand's leading the way.

The brand's unique at-home tests provide a screenshot into your current gut health—and I do mean snapshot. Your microbiome is changing constantly, and even the foods you eat (or don't eat) can impact your gut health.

While microbiome testing is still in its infancy, these at-home tests can still be an interesting way to get insight into your gut health. And while many only look at stool samples to understand your gut heath—which actually has different microbes than your intestines1—the Viome test stands out from competitions due to its use of (mRNA).

The gut microbiome is a collection of trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the digestive tract. It plays a role in everything from digestion to immune function to mental health, per physician and holistic health enthusiast, Alice Williams, M.D.

"This community of organisms helps break down food, synthesize nutrients, and protect against infection," says Williams. "The gut microbiome also plays a role in shaping the immune system and regulating metabolism."

Our understanding of the gut microbiome is still evolving, but we know that having a healthy gut is essential to our overall health.

Viome is a preventive health and longevity company attempting to address the epidemic of chronic diseases, cancer, and aging. Its at-home tests analyze both microbial and human gene expressions (mRNA). The intention is to provide comprehensive health insights, personalized food recommendations, and nutritional products to promote living a longer and healthier life.

Unlike its competitors, Viome analyzes mRNA, instead of DNA, to determine the root cause of health issues (early signals), as opposed to simply identifying the symptoms. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a transcription of someone's DNA.

DNA remains the same throughout your life, which is why food recommendations based on DNA will never change—even if you gain weight or begin to develop a health condition. If your DNA never changes, what changes as you become sick?

The brand's proprietary testing approach combines novel mRNA research and technology to analyze epigenetic biomarkers and deliver comprehensive, A.I. (artificial intelligence)-driven health insights.

Based on the gene expression activity Viome can see in every individual—which is completely unique to each person—Viome can translate these signals into Health Scores that provide the basis for the personalized recommendations, including both recommendations for diet and custom-made supplement formulas.

The price for a Viome microbiome test starts at $249 for the most basic Gut Intelligence Test and increases up to $399. The brand offers three total testing tiers, which each come with food and supplement recommendations.

My initial thought when I received my Viome kit in the mail was that it resembled a high-end luxury package rather than an at-home lab test. The luxe kit is extremely organized, color-coded, and labeled. My test, the Full Body Intelligence Kit, required three types of samples: stool, blood, and saliva.

Fasting is required before the blood and saliva sample, so I opted to wait until the next morning. I went ahead and collected my stool when the time was convenient for my bowels. It's recommended to use your first full bowel movement9 of the day to ensure the most accurate results.

Stool collection

The stool sample process is fairly straightforward: You poop onto a collection paper that you lay across the toilet. There is a spoon included in the kit, which you can use to gather a spoonful of stool and add it to the collection tube.

From there, just flush the paper and remaining stool down the toilet and shake your sample to mix it with the liquid in the tube. If you are worried about the cleanliness of a stool sample and er, spillage, I can assure you it's safely contained.

Saliva collection

The next morning, prior to any food or drink, I completed the saliva sample. I thought, "Should be simple enough, just spit a few times into a tube, right?" Turns out, this sample type was actually the most difficult simply because of the amount of saliva needed.

It took me at least 30 minutes to fill the tube to the fill line. I was not expecting it to take as long, so heed my advice: Allow yourself sufficient time to complete this step.

Blood collection

The third sample type is blood from a finger prick. As a nurse, I've performed this procedure multiple times on patients, so it felt pretty natural to do. The kit only comes with two lancets, which, in my opinion, is not enough.

I suggest viewing your results in the app, as the website was a bit challenging to scroll through. While there is no professional follow-up included with your results, they're still incredibly comprehensive. In fact, they're so exhaustive that I felt overwhelmed by not having any type of consultation or personalized explanation, even as a medical professional.

Not only did the test provide me with a variety of health scores—including 42 where I needed improvement—the results also provided me with a supplement recommendation from the brand designed for optimal gut health. They also included a list of 25 foods that I should avoid and 35 "superfoods" or items I should incorporate into my diet more.

Essentially, there's a lot of information to digest, and I truly felt like I would have benefited from having a medical expert walking me through the results and answer any questions.

I also struggled slightly with the UX. For example, I thought the food recommendations were vague without any insights as to why they were the right recommendation for me. The brand later informed us that it was possible to actually click into the food to get a brief synopsis—but I only knew this feature was possible when the brand reached out afterwards. Plus, when you do click into the synopsis, many are vague.

Viome has published evidence-based papers showing that people who follow its food and supplement recommendations have reduced their clinical scores for IBS, depression, anxiety, and diabetes by over 30%. However Viome sponsored this research and it has not been peer-reviewed.

As Williams reminds us, at-home testing is not a tool for diagnosing health conditions and should not replace regular visits to your doctor. Williams recommends consulting with your health care provider if you are concerned about symptoms or illness or to discuss abnormal results.

It's also worth noting that Viome recommends both whole foods and supplements to address any results received from your test. However the gut is incredible complicated. Even labeling gut bacteria as "good" or "bad" can be a complex misdirection for the average consumer.

So although I felt inspired to increase the biodiversity of my meals10, it was also important to remember that research currently suggests your long-term diet plays a bigger role11 in your gut microbiome than any immediate food changes. 

More importantly, there isn't really a set protocol for how to address any signs of a poor gut health. So while the brand does offer quite a few suggestions, they're really just that—suggestions.

Biohm is an option for those who desire a live consultation to review results. For $180, users can connect with someone to ask clarifying questions and gain further insight into what their biomarker readings mean.

Retesting after making the recommended changes is imperative to ensure your dietary changes are helping. Floré, another microbiome test, has an option for a monthly $79 subscription, which includes a microbiome test every four months, along with a uniquely formulated supplement shipped to your door.