Below are some frequently asked questions which have been answered by our support team. If you are unable to find the answers you need from the options below, or from any of the sections listed under the Categories heading, please reach out to or customer service team.
It is recommended to avoid the following foods for at least 12 hours prior to collecting the sample. (Coffee, tea, caffeinated drinks, bananas, chocolate, cocoa, citrus fruits and vanilla). As such, vivaLAB suggests a light dinner and collecting your mid stream from your first morning urine.
Avoiding these food for 48 hours may improve the sensitivity of the results but is not necessary.
Your vivaBALANCE test results will be based on your diet at the time of testing.
How much a dietary change will affect your results and recommendations will depend on the previous composition of your microbiome, how dramatically you changed your diet, and how long ago your diet started. Considering these factors, it can take anywhere from a few days to a number of weeks to affect results. Since there are so many variables, we recommend waiting until you’ve resumed your normal diet for 3-4 weeks before you test.
If you do choose to complete a test while you are still fasting or following a short-term diet, be aware that results will be based on your diet at the time you collect your sample.
Medications
You can get results from a vivaBALANCE test if you are taking medications. You'll have an opportunity to input which medications you’re taking in our lifestyle survey, and this will be considered when your test recommendations are generated. Some short-term medications, such as antibiotics and antivirals, can affect your microbiome. There's more information on those types of medications below. Do not discontinue any medications before talking to your healthcare provider.
Antibiotics
The use of antibiotics—both prescription and herbal—will affect your vivaBALANCE test results. This does not mean you cannot complete a test, it is simply something to be aware of.
vivaLAB will capture the state of your microbiome at the time of testing. If a sample is taken directly after a course of antibiotics, recommendations will be focused on reestablishing your microbial ecosystem. The 6-months follow up re-test will enable you to monitor your progress, and subsequent recommendations will be aimed at improving and maintaining the new balance.
If you are not looking for that level of guidance, you can wait to complete a test. It's up to you. If you choose to wait to collect your samples, we recommend waiting at least 3 months after your last antibiotic dose.
Note: that antibiotics can affect the microbiome for up to a year after taking them, but testing three months after should show a significant difference.
Antivirals and Antifungals
For courses of antivirals/antifungals, we recommend waiting 3–4 weeks after your last dose before collecting your sample(s) for the vivaBALANCE test.
Disclaimer: A healthy, balanced microbiome is critical in maintaining wellness and plays a role in many conditions. As a wellness company, we cannot diagnose, mitigate or treat symptoms or diseases. The foods recommended (or excluded) and supplements are designed to optimize the environment in the microbiome, and the result is intended to affect your general wellness positively. vivaLAB does not take the place of a primary care provider.
You may collect your stool sample for your vivaBIOME test at any time, regardless of your menstrual cycle. Just be careful not to get any menstrual blood on your stool when you collect your sample.
vivaLAB recommends not collecting urine for your vivaMETABOLITE test during your menstrual cycle. This may potentially contaminate the sample for analyses.
The most common reason sample(s) are rejected is because they fail inspection when received by the lab.
Typical reasons a sample is rejected include:
If your sample(s) are rejected, vivaLAB will need new sample(s) from you. You will receive an email with instructions on how to order a replacement test kit to collect new sample(s) if needed. The replacement test kit is complimentary (no fee). In the email, will be a link that directs you to a page to confirm your shipping address. Please be sure to request your replacement test kit within 30 days of the email because the link expires after that time.
If your test sample(s) are rejected or fail:
Let us know what supplements or medications you are taking in the Lifestyle Survey when you sign on to vivaLAB so we can reflect that in our analyses.
Supplements:
If you are on regular supplements and/or probiotics, you do not need to discontinue them for the test. It would take 2-3 weeks off of supplements and/or probiotics to determine what your native microbiome would be, but it is your decision to determine if you would like your microbiome to be tested native or supplemented. If you do not plan on stopping your supplements in the near future then you do not need to worry about discontinuing them before testing.
Medications:
No you do not need to stop your medications. You can still conduct the test while on your current medications.
The use of antibiotics—both prescription and herbal—will affect your vivaBALANCE test results. This does not mean you cannot complete a test, it is simply something to be aware of.
vivaLAB will capture the state of your microbiome at the time of testing. If a sample is taken directly after a course of antibiotics, recommendations will be focused on reestablishing your microbial ecosystem. The follow up re-test at 6 months will enable you to monitor your progress, and subsequent recommendations will be aimed at improving and maintaining the new balance.
If you do choose to wait to collect your samples after antibiotics, we recommend waiting at least 3 months after your last antibiotic dose.
Note: that antibiotics can affect the microbiome for up to a year after taking them, but testing three months after should show a significant difference.
