Biomesight review – How much gut info from uploaded data?

7 Facts from our Biomesight Review

1. Location: London, United Kingdom
2. Products: Gut Microbiome Test (Time Lapse) and Gut Microbial Test (Snapshot)
3. Cost: $192-$420
4. Reports: A comprehensive wellness score and genetic analysis of their gut health
5. How it works: Customers order their chosen test and have it shipped to their home. Then, they provide blood samples and send them back to the lab. Results are available in the online portal in a few weeks 
6. Counseling available: No
7. Alternative Products: Nebula Genomics offers 30X Whole Genome Sequencing that decodes 100% of your DNA and offers reports on diet and much more!

This review is written with the intent to be as unbiased as possible. However, it represents the opinion of an individual reviewer and is therefore subjective. Furthermore, at Nebula Genomics we seek to educate the public about the benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing. Information about our Whole Genome Sequencing DNA test is therefore incorporated into the review.

August 23, 2022

Pros and Cons

Pros

• 16s sequencing technology that communicates with other testing companies and research
• Raw data
• Free data upload

Cons

• Can get pricey for time lapse
• Results can be confusing
• No automatic updates to your reports

Introduction

Biomesight is an AI-driven health company that focuses on the health status of the gut microbiome. It uses its AI-driven wellness analytical platform with a primary focus on gut health to provide lifestyle, food, and prebiotic recommendations to improve quality of life. The company believes that the microbiome is a leading indicator of overall health and wellness.

Using your gut health scores, related to your unique makeup, it provides personalized recommendations for diet, prebiotic supplements, and lifestyle adjustments. It also sheds light on allergies and food intolerances.

Biomesight is one of the few microbiome analysis companies that supports both data upload and download. Users with FASTQ files from other labs such as uBiome, Ombre (Thryve), and Psomagen can upload this data and receive full, free access to the Biomesight platform. Results are usually available within 10 minutes of upload. 

The company notes that this feature allows customers to compare samples from different labs over time to track progress.

Users can also download their FASTQ and CSV data. 

The company was founded in 2019 by Rose Walbrugh, an entrepreneur and senior technologist. Biomesight is based in London, England.

Before you sequence your gut bacteria and take probiotics, you should sequence your genome! Nebula Genomics offers Whole Genome Sequencing, the most complete DNA test that decodes 100% of your DNA. Whole Genome Sequencing will enable you to learn more about your ancestry, and health than any other DNA test! Click here to learn more!

The Science behind Biomesight

Biomesight offers patients information about their Gut through its two major testing options, which are either a single test for a snapshot of gut health or three kits that can be used over time. The microbiome test uses the 16s rRNA gene database to identify a count and relative abundance percentage of bacteria in your microbiome, including the individual species.

This technology allows the company to reference thousands of gut microbiome research publications over the past 20 years.

The technology uses Next Generation Sequencing and metagenomics for complete DNA bacteria profiling and archaea in patients’ samples.

The company interprets the result by comparing the sample abundance to standard ranges for a subset of key bacteria (Probiotics, Commensals & Pathobionts). It also provides personalized recommendations for prebiotic supplements, food, & lifestyle adjustments based on up-to-date research findings.

Review of Biomesight Products

The company offers a single test called the Gut Microbiome Test. It sells it in two different ways. Purchasing a single test is called a “Snapshot”. This allows you to get a single measurement of your microbiome health in real time.

The second way is through a bundle of three individual Gut Microbiome (snapshot) tests that the company calls a “Time lapse”. Customers who want to track their health and progress over time may be interested in this option. 

With the Gut Microbiome test, Biomesight looks at your gut microbial and provides you with your gut health score, relative abundances of all bacterial organisms present, an interpretation of the results, and customized food recommendations to suit your microbial makeup and improve your gut health. 

Investing in your gut helps support the immune system, improves hormonal balance and vitamin synthesis, and gives you more sleep and renewed energy. This test covers your oxalate and lactose intolerance, neurotransmitter and toxin producers, detoxification enzymes, short-chain fatty acid producers, a report on commensal, pathobiont, and probiotic materials, and much more.

Like most direct-to-consumer general wellness tests, Biomesight’s product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has not been approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Review of Biomesight Cost

A single Gut Microbiome test costs $184. The time lapse option, which includes three individual tests, costs $430.

Review of Taking a Biomesight Test

Each collection kit includes:

• A collection tube
• A swab
• A prepaid return mailer. UK postage paid.
• Collection instructions.

Customers will visit the website and create a user’s account to sign in. The ordered kit will be delivered to their home. To collect a sample, users will wipe normally after a bowel movement and use the swab to collect a sample from the toilet paper about the size of a grain or rice.

Users place the swab into the provided tube, swirl for 30 seconds, and discard the swab. Then, they replace the tube and shake the contents for 10 seconds. 

Customers must register their kit online. Then, they will seal the sample in the prepaid return mailer and mail it back to the lab. The labs are located in the U.K. International customers may have instructions regarding a customs form. 

Results are available 1 to 3 weeks after the lab receives the sample.

Review of Uploading Raw Data to Biomesight

It is also possible to upload the result of your gut samples analyzed by another company. Doing this requires simply uploading your results and receiving analysis within minutes. Biomesight recommends patients re perform the test to track their progress.

Currently Biomesight supports FASTQ uploads from:

• uBiome
• ThryveInside
• Psomagen (16s) – (does not support shotgun sequence data)
• Olawell

Some users have also successfully uploaded samples from RedLabs in Belgium and others. The main requirement is that the reads must be split between forward and reverse reads.

The company is currently in the process of supporting:

• American Gut
• British Gut
• AtlasBiomed

You can email the company to see if your data works or try it yourself.

Data upload is free.

The company also offers collaborations with researchers to help them perform bulk uploads of data for research projects. This service is not for profit and free.

Review of BiomeSight Report

Biomesight has one of the most comprehensive results for the microbiome test. The company uses AI technology and genetic sequencing to ensure patients get a comprehensive analysis of their guts. 

Results include full taxonomy, relative abundance compared to what is considered an ideal range based on the recommendations of Dr Jason Hawrelak of the Probiotic Advisor, and a diversity calculation.

The company reports the overall gut wellness score, a value which includes four important metrics: Probiotics, Commensals (bacteria interaction), Pathogens, and Diversity.

Along with the number, the company provides a clear text description of the overall gut health. In the example above, the score 78.01 means “Needs Improvement”.

These indexes are considered according to their importance to gut balance and create an overall score ranging from 0 to 100. The higher the wellness score based on the four metrics, the better the customer’s gut health is.

Each of the four metrics has its unique awarded scores that contribute to the overall 100. The maximum score are:

1. Diversity – 20
2. Commensals – 30
3. Probiotics – 30
4. Pathogens – 20

After the overall score, the report has separate sections with details on each of these metrics, along with recommendations.

In most cases, the section contains information on each microbial component at the species level.

Recommendations

After reviewing your results, you can view the recommendations. These include personalized food recommendations, prebiotic supplements, and lifestyle adjustments.

There are recommendations associated with each bacteria so the full report may be a bit overwhelming.

The company also tells you which percentile you fall in compared to the general population.

For those users who want more information, there is a section on species level data. This lists all species discovered in the sample along with count and percentage.

Finally, those who ordered the time lapse option will have access to graphs showing progress over time.

Users can toggle between which bacteria are shown in the plot from the phylum to species level.

Several other features, such as Short Chain Fatty Acid Producers (Butyrate, Acetate, Propionate) and Detoxification Enzymes are in beta phase.

Review of Biomesight Privacy

At Biomesight, there is a research team that has access to the submitted datasets to conduct research. Any publications resulting from these data sets will not identify individuals. Data will not be shared with external researchers unless a formal partnership is established with the company,

Biomesight does not sell data to third-parties.

Other Biomesight Reviews

Biomesight has a 4.6 star review on Trustpilot with just under 100 reviews. Many high rating reviews praised the customer service, noting that the staff was polite and helpful. Many customers also felt the reports were insightful and comprehensive. Only a few customers had negative comments, such as the results being confusing or not containing certain information they were looking for.

The Gut Microbiome Test is available on Amazon. The customers here give the product a 3.8 star rating. However, this is only based on about 20 reviews, which is a relatively small sample.

Most customers found the test easy to take and the results informative. Some felt that the results were confusing.

Nebula Genomics

Biomesight seeks to take gut health tests and analysis to the next level. The company aims to give customers a comprehensive microbiome analysis and recommendations to improve gut health. 

In addition to the gut, you may also be interested in other genetic sequencing to unlock discoveries about your general health and wellness. The most comprehensive testing to achieve this is whole genome sequencing. Nebula Genomics offers 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing, which sequences 100% of your DNA to help you discover predispositions related to diet, fitness, metabolism, health conditions, and much more. The test is incredibly accurate and comes with other additions, including ancestry reporting and genome exploration tools.

Unlike Biomesight, Nebula Genomics provides customers with regularly updated reports on their genome to ensure they are kept up to date with significant developments and new research. 

Biomesight’s gut test is close to $200, which may be best for those seeking information on only one aspect of their health. However, for those who are interested in a whole body view, whole genome sequencing provides the most information.

For only $299 or less customers will get access to their entire genome along with exploration tools, allowing them to continue to get more answers as more research is conducted.

Biomesight vs. Nebula Genomics

	Biomesight	Nebula Genomics
Testing method	Stool test to identify type and abundance of microbes in gut	Whole genome sequencing that sequences all 20,000 genes and regulatory regions
Reports	Analysis and recommendations on gut health	An extended genetic report that is updated regularly
Ancestry reporting	No	Performs deep ancestry reporting with the complete Y chromosome and mtDNA sequencing
Counseling	No	No, but data is of the highest quality and can be used by physicians and genetic counselors
Cost	$192-$420	$0, $99, $299

Did you like our Biomesight review? You can read more reviews on our blog and check out our complete guide to the best DNA test kit and other home tests.

If you want to discover other companies that offer microbiome testing, you should read about:

• Atlas Biomed (microbiome and nutrition recommendations)
• Biohm (gut health, including bacteria and fungi)
• DayTwo (gut health, personalized recommendations for blood glucose optimization)
• Ixcela (blood test for gut health and personalized recommendations)
• Kean Health (gut health, recommendations, plus a gene test with 100+ traits)
• OlaWell (recommendations to avoid food intolerances)
• Onegevity (gut health and personalized recommendations)
• Psomagen (gut health and gene test)
• Rootine (personalized supplement and vitamins based on DNA test)
• Sun Genomics (gut microbiome testing and personalized probiotics for adults, children, and infants)
• Thryve (personalized probiotics)
• Verisana (hormone, gut, and STD tests plus many more)
• Viome (gut health and microbiome testing)