Microbiome refers to the community of microbes that reside on and in us. This community includes bacteria, archaea, fungi, parasites and viruses, which inhabit our skin, mouths, gut and even our genitals. Our health is closely linked to these communities both physically (inflammation, metabolic disease, aging, fertility) and mentally. When in balance, they defend our body from pathogens and protect our health from chronic diseases. Microbiome testing allows us to understand if our microbial communities are within the spectrum of balance and health.
16S based microbiome testing gives a broad overview of bacteria and archaea present. Bacteria and archaea form only two components of our microbiome. The microbiome also consists of fungi, viruses, and protozoa, which can be targeted by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing data offer a deeper analysis of the microbiome. We offer both 16S based and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Our analysis includes virulence factor annotation and drug resistance genes annotation.
We can provide microbiome testing of gut (fecal/stool), vaginal, oral, skin, nasal samples. We can also service environmental microbiomes such as in water supplies, please contact our team to discuss your project and needs.
The healthy resident microbiota on the skin prevents colonization by pathogenic bacteria. However, changes in the microbiota can cause skin disorders. It can be useful to test the microbiome for the following:
Oral microbiota has implications for neuro health and can influence the gut microbiota. The oral microbiome can be tested for understanding persistent conditions involving:
The gut microbiome refers to the microbes that reside in our colon and can be studied through our poop. They generate metabolites that can then affect our brain function (Gut-brain axis), joints, liver, and many more organs.
This can be offered at 16S level, where one understands the bacterial component of the gut health. However, since it is not providing the patient with a complete picture, shotgun sequencing that allows the profiling of fungi, archaea, viruses and protozoa is recommended.
Gut microbiome testing and understanding the gut microbiome might be useful in chronic conditions such as:
Many vaginal conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection and aerobic vaginitis are often misdiagnosed and treated with therapeutics that target different groups of microbes. This often leads to recurrence of symptoms, if the treatment works at all.
Vaginal health is also not just critical part of women’s health but influences the health of her partner and has implications on maternal and infant health during and after pregnancy. It can also directly contribute to the prenatal health and health of the developing fetus.
During menopause, women often experience vaginal dryness and this is due to the change in vaginal microbiota. These changes can be monitored through microbiome testing and a physician can be consulted for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Vaginal microbiome testing might be useful in the following conditions:
The preterm birth rate in North America is 10.6% and 25 – 40% of those preterm births are due to intrauterine infection. Subset of vaginal microbiota can ascend to the upper genital tract and gain access to the amniotic sac. One of the key abilities of this subset of bacteria is their ability to degrade the mucous plug of cervix during pregnancy that blocks the ascension of bacteria into the uterus. [1] Shotgun sequencing can determine if the bacterial community has genes with this function. This way we might be able to predict the PPROM before it occurs.
| Service | 16S RNA Price ( ) | Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing Price ( ) |
|---|---|---|
| One time Microbiome Analysis | ||
| Single Microbiome | TBA | TBA |
| Multiple Microbiomes | TBA | TBA |
| Full Personal Microbiome (Gut, Genital, Skin, Oral, Nasal) | TBA | TBA |
| 5M Microbiome Set (Choose any 5Microbiome Tests) | TBA | TBA |
| Microbiome Monitoring Program (MMP) Renewed Every Month | ||
| Single Biome Subscription | TBA | TBA |
| Multiple Microbiome Subscription | TBA | TBA |
| Full Personal Microbiome Subscription | TBA | TBA |
| 5M Microbiome Set | TBA | TBA |
List of Testable microbiomes to select from: Gut, Urogenital, Maternal, Skin, Oral, Nasal, Animal Gut, Environmental*
*We can accommodate various sample types for microbiome analysis irrespective of its listing in our service options, please contact us for a quote.
For every 5 microbiome visits your 6th is free
| Microbiome Analysis Package (MAP) | Initiative Description | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Couples Understanding Sexual Pathogens (CUSP) | Increasing awareness and health among sexual partners | 2 urogenital microbiome shotgun sequencing packages |
| Fertility Analysis In Risk (FAIR) | Aid in couples looking to start a family | 2 fertility microbiome shotgun sequencing packages |
| Pregnancy Analysis for Testing Child Health (PATCH) | Assessing expectant baby and maternal health | Amniotic fluid whole genome and microbiome package for in-utero baby |
| Wellness Analysis Resources for Mental Health (WARMH) | Increasing resources, awareness, and tools to aid in mental health | Subscription package for those with mental health concerns |
| Analysis for Neuro-Development in Youth (ANDY) | Increasing resources, awareness, and tools to improve cognitive outcomes in youth | Subscription package for those with neuro-cognitive concerns in youth |
| Water Environment Testing (WET) | Assessing environmental impacts of industries and water quality in communities | Water sample monitoring package |
| Partner Initiatives | Reach out to partner with BioAro to create a joint initiative using our services. | |
*If you are looking to support microbiome analysis and health efforts please contact us.