Viome Review 2024

Awareness about optimizing gut health has become more mainstream over the past few years, leading to a rise in at-home test kits for analyzing your gut microbiome.

One of the more well-known companies creating these tests is Viome, which offers at-home tests for gut health and other health markers.

While many people are curious about their gut health — particularly as research emerges about gut health’s connections to the immune system, mood, mental health, autoimmune diseases, and skin conditions — science does not yet support the use of at-home gut microbiome tests.

Commonly, a gastroenterologist will diagnose gut health issues and may order tests or procedures to determine the cause of symptoms. However, many people see at-home testing as a convenient way to get more information about their health without working with a doctor.

This article discusses the science behind at-home microbiome testing and explains why Healthline does not recommend Viome’s tests or supplements.

While Viome is quickly becoming known for its gut health testing, the company failed Healthline’s rigorous vetting process and is not a company we would recommend, for a number of reasons.

For starters, there is simply not enough evidence to indicate that the samples (blood, stool, and/or saliva) Viome collects from users contain enough data to make clinical decisions

The health claims Viome makes about personalizing supplements and diets using data from these tests are also not supported by any current body of peer-reviewed evidence

Further, while the company’s lab in Bothell, Washington, is third-party certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, third-party validation for Viome’s supplement products is not publicly available to confirm purity and potency.

Another potential safety concern is the lack of transparency around the ingredients in the supplements.

While customers can access dosage information for active ingredients in their personalized formulas using the company’s app, a full list of inactive ingredients is not publicly available.

Without this information, people with food allergies or intolerances cannot assess whether Viome products are safe for them to take.

Finally, Viome states that it offers consults from clinicians as part of its CancerDetect test, but the company does not provide further information regarding who the clinicians are or their qualifications.

Throughout this article, we discuss the scope of gut microbiome tests and Viome and explain why we do not recommend the brand.

What is a gut microbiome test?

Your gut microbiome includes the bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes that live in your intestines. These microorganisms are essential for moderating digestion, the central nervous system, and the immune system (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

A gut microbiome test can determine the composition of different types of microbes within your gut. These tests are performed by analyzing stool samples.

Typically, a gut microbiome test detects the types of microbes in your gut and any signs of inflammation, yeast overgrowth, bacterial overgrowth, or parasites. It also identifies markers for common issues, such as calprotectin, which is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 

Several available types of gut microbiome test kits claim that they can help people understand their gut flora. Some tests detect bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other organisms, while others focus on just fungi and bacteria or just bacteria.

These tests require an at-home fecal sample that you mail back to the test provider. Some tests also offer a companion blood or saliva test to provide further insight.

What is Viome?

Viome is a company that offers at-home microbiome testing kits for people who want to learn more about their gut health. Your gut microbiome is the collection of microorganisms living in your intestines — some of which are harmful to health and some of which are beneficial.

Using a platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Viome collects blood, stool, and saliva samples from users to analyze their microbiome (gut bacteria) and human gene expression (proteins that dictate cell function).

The company then provides diet and lifestyle recommendations to help improve gut conditions and overall health. In some cases, the company suggests that users take its branded supplement blends.

With the increasing popularity of probiotics and the consumption of more whole foods, interest in balancing one’s gut microbiome has been on the rise. However, science does not currently support the claims Viome makes about what its tests can do.

How does Viome work?

1. Order your kit

To get started with Viome, you can purchase one of its three testing options or two subscription plans:

• Gut Intelligence Test
• Health Intelligence Test
• Full Body Intelligence Test
• Precision Supplements & Probiotics + Prebiotics subscription with Fully Body Intelligence Test
• Precision Probiotics + Prebiotics subscription with Gut Intelligence Test
• The company also offers a CancerDetect test for oral and throat cancers.
• You’ll receive your test kit in the mail. Shipping is free.

2. Collect your sample and mail it in

You collect your sample (blood, stool, and/or saliva, depending on your testing kit) and send it back using the prepaid mailer Viome provides.

3. Get your results

Once Viome receives your sample, the lab will process it and give you your results within 2–3 weeks, though some customers complain about longer wait times. You can review your results through your account on the Viome site and the accompanying app.

Because Viome customers do not review their results in the presence of a healthcare professional, the results may cause some people to make changes to their wellness routine that are unnecessary or overly restrictive. This could lead to a reduction in diet quality and to nutritional deficiencies over time.

Additionally, as Healthline medical expert Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, points out, because the gut microbiota may change during the waiting period — as a result of changes in diet, medication, or supplement use — the results may no longer be relevant by the time the customer receives them.

If you sign up for the subscription kit with supplements, you’ll receive monthly shipments of Viome supplements based on your results. You can pause or resume your subscription by logging into your account on the website or app. To cancel, you need to call the company.

Pricing

Viome offers three types of testing, which range in price from $249 to $399.

The company typically offers promotions for $20–30 off — available to those who use coupon codes or sign up for Viome’s mailing list — and often discounts its two less intensive tests.

The company also offers two supplement subscription plans that range from $69.95 to $179 per month.

Shipping is always free.

Types of tests available
Viome currently offers three tests and two subscription plans:

Gut Intelligence Test

Test price: $249
The Gut Intelligence Test is Viome’s base gut health test, focusing solely on the gut microbiome and digestive health.

It analyzes a stool sample to compute an overall “Integrative Functional Health score” and more than 20 subscores for markers such as gas production, inflammatory activity, and digestive efficiency.

Based on these scores, you’ll receive food and supplement recommendations for the next 4–6 months to help you optimize digestion, food absorption, and gut flora diversity.

Health Intelligence Test

Test price: $329
This test combines the stool sample testing of the Gut Intelligence Test with DNA blood testing.

It delivers an Integrative Functional Health score after analyzing both your gut microbiome and the gene expression of your microbes, your mitochondria, and your human cells. With this test, you receive more than 30 subscores, including mitochondrial health and biological age.

Full Body Intelligence Test

Test price: $399
The Full Body Intelligence Test combines stool sample testing and blood testing with a saliva test to provide eight Integrative Health scores — including biological age, gut health, immune system health, oral health, and brain and cognitive health — and more than 50 subscores to help optimize overall health and show how you’re aging internally.

Precision Probiotics + Prebiotics with Gut Intelligence Test subscription

Subscription cost: $69.95/month
This subscription plan includes a one-time Gut Intelligence Test along with monthly deliveries of a custom probiotic and prebiotic blend.

The blend is based on the results of your Gut Intelligence Test and includes 8–16 probiotic strains, depending on your gut-health needs.

Precision Supplements & Probiotics + Prebiotics with Full Body Intelligence Test subscription
Subscription cost with Precision Supplements only: $130/month
Subscription cost with Probiotics + Prebiotics blend: $179/month
This subscription plan includes a one-time Full Body Intelligence Test along with a monthly supply of supplements.

Precision Supplements are customized based on your test results and include a combination of minerals, vitamins, herbs, enzymes, amino acids, and food extracts.

For an additional cost, you can also receive monthly shipments of Precision Probiotics + Prebiotics.

What Viome measures

Viome tests analyze your samples to determine various markers of health, including:

• biological age (based on cell function and DNA damage)
• energy levels
• gut microbiome health
• stress response
• cellular health
• immune system health

Viome maintains that its tests can help people improve digestion, increase their energy levels, lose weight, improve the efficiency of their metabolism, and sleep better.

While these claims sound really promising, they may not be grounded in science.