Sample collection

  • How long do the kits last?

    We use a DNA preservation buffer that kills all organisms while preserving the DNA. The buffer we use has a shelf life of 3 years from batch production. Please check the expiry date which is listed on your kit's outer packaging or collection tube that contains the preservation buffer before open...

  • How long can the bacterial DNA be preserved?

    The preservation buffer can preserve bacterial DNA in ambient temperatures for up to 3 years, however this is subject to the expiry date on your kit, therefore please check your expiry date before collecting your sample.

  • What happens if I am not able to collect my sample and need a new kit?

    No problem, just let us know via email (support@biomesight.com) or online chat. We will send you a new kit. Note that we reserve the right to charge for additional kits and delivery charges, however the cost would be no more than £15 per kit.

  • Can I collect a sample while taking oral antibiotics?

    This depends on how targeted the effect of the antibiotics, e.g. broad spectrum or more selective, and also how long you are taking the antibiotics. If you're on a short course (e.g. under one week) it's best to wait to complete the course and to test a few weeks afterwards. If you plan to perfor...

  • Can I collect a fecal sample when I have diarrhea?

    We would recommend waiting for the diarrhea to pass as it is unlikely to be a representative sample of your normal microbiome. If you frequently experience diarrhea and is interested in determining if a bacterial pathogen is responsible for the diarrhea, then you can go ahead and collect your sam...

  • What happens if my kit does not arrive safely back at the lab?

    We will inform you via email when we have received your kit and when it has reached the lab. If it reaches the lab but we are not able to extract viable DNA from your sample, then we will need to send you a new kit. Note that as we will incur charges for DNA extraction, there might be a charge o...

  • What is contained in the test kit?

    The test kit contains: Collection tube with DNA preservation buffer Swab Return mailer with plastic bag and absorbent sheet Collection Instructions

  • What will happen if I post my kit without registering or making a note of my Kit ID?

    Note that we intentionally do not associate Kit IDs with orders. We also intentionally do not associate orders with customer accounts. This is to allow for anonymity. While a full name and address is needed to buy a kit, only an email address is needed to register a kit and access your results. ...

  • Can I collect a sample during my period?

    It is OK to collect a sample during your period as the presence of the period blood will not affect the sample, however, many women experience hormone related changes to their bowel movements related to their monthly cycle.  Some women become more constipated in the days leading up to their perio...

  • Can I collect a sample if I have blood in my stools?

    The presence of blood in the sample will not affect the result, however, please do ensure you seek medical support from a licensed physician for dealing with that separately as it could be serious. A microbiome test will only provide insights into the makeup of the gut microbiome.

  • Do I need to stop proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) before collecting my sample?

    No, you do not need to stop PPIs. PPIs do impact the microbiome (large intestine and small intestine) but they do not interfere with the accuracy of the test.

  • How do i collect my sample?

    The process to collect the sample is to take the swab and run it along the tissue paper. There should be a bit of color while taking the sample and it should roughly be the size of the grain of rice. The next step is to open up the vial and mix your sample, also make sure there is enough color on...

  • How do I register my kit?

    Here is  video walk-through of how to register your Biomesight kit.

  • How long to refrain from enemas and/or ozone insufflation before collecting a stool sample?

    Please allow at least two weeks to be safe, but we don't really know. Those therapies will definitely impact the large intestine microbiome but there is no solid research on recovery time. The research suggests for colonoscopy prep (which will impact the large intestine microbiome a lot more than...

  • Is the collected sample a biological sample and do I need to use a specialized courier?

    There are no special carrier requirements. As all live organisms are killed and only the DNA preserved prior to transport, the sample is classed an a non-biological exempt human specimen. UK customers simply need to drop the sample contained within the original packaging, packaged as instruct...

  • Should I take a break from taking digestive enzymes, probiotics, fermented foods and prebiotics before I collect my sample?

    This is a matter of personal preference in terms of what you are looking to gain from the test. The impact on your microbiome would differ depending on the amount of active CFUs contained in the probiotics. When taking reasonably small doses (e.g. up to 50 billion CFUs per day) we would expect n...

  • What do I need to return to the lab?

    Please return the tube (vial)  to us in the provided packaging (the full kit and not just the tube). The liquid in the tube is a preservative which will kill all the bacteria in the sample but preserve the DNA of the bacteria. It is important to ensure the sample is mixed well within the tube. Do...