Thinking About Testing your Gut Microbiome in South Africa? Here’s a comparison between Viome and Biomine Health.

If you have been searching for Viome in South Africa or hearing about gut microbiome tests on podcasts, you are not alone. Many people are looking for ways to understand bloating, IBS, fatigue, skin flare ups and other symptoms by looking inside the gut.

In South Africa, you broadly have two options:

• An international test like Viome’s Gut Intelligence test

• A local gut microbiome test, such as the Biomine Gut Microbiome Test

This article is not about saying one brand is good and another is bad. Viome is a respected international company. Biomine exists to offer a local option built for South African lifestyles. The goal here is simply to help you choose what fits you.

What Viome offers

Viome is a US based company that analyses your microbiome with RNA-seq based technology and uses ML to give personalised nutrition and supplement guidance. With their gut test you:

• Receive an at home stool kit

• Send your sample to their lab overseas

• A list of "red", "yellow", and "green" foods

• Get a digital report with gut scores and food recommendations in their app

Their approach focuses on what your microbes are doing right now and how that activity links to overall wellness.

What Biomine offers

Biomine is a South African company focused on gut microbiome testing.

With the Biomine Gut Microbiome Test you:

• Get an at home stool swab kit designed for simple, mess free collection

• Have your sample shipped to a local South African lab

• Receive a detailed report on your gut bacteria, diversity and patterns linked to digestion, leaky gut, inflammation, skin, fatigue and more

• Have a one on one consultation with a local microbiome specialist included, so you are not left alone with a PDF

Biomine is also building South Africa's biggest microbiome dataset, which means patterns and recommendations become more and more tailored to local diets and lifestyles over time. Biomine technology has been extensively validated in European labs

Key differences if you live in South Africa

1. Where your sample goes

• Viome: your sample is collected in South Africa but sent to an international lab.

• Biomine: your sample is shipped to Biomine's lab in Cape Town.

For most people this comes down to preference. Some love being part of a global system, others prefer keeping things local.

2. Local context for recommendations

• Viome is built on a large global dataset, with a strong base in US eating patterns.

• Biomine is building a databse of d specifically South African diets, food availability and lifestyle patterns.

If your daily meals are built around local produce and brands, having a report that speaks your food language can make it easier to follow through.

3. Support and follow through

Data alone can feel overwhelming. What matters is what you do next.

• Viome gives detailed app based reports and recommendations.

• Biomine adds a built in one on one consultation with a microbiome specialist who understands both your biology and your South African context.

If you know you like talking things through with a human and asking questions, this may be an important factor.

So which one is right for you?

An international test like Viome may suit you if:

• You are specifically interested in their technology and ecosystem

• You are comfortable with your sample being shipped overseas

• You prefer to work mainly with app based guidance

A local test like Biomine may suit you if:

• You want a South African gut microbiome test

• You want recommendations that match local food and lifestyle

• You value a consultation included so you can unpack your results with someone

Both are wellness tools, not medical diagnostics. Whichever option you choose, always speak to your doctor or health practitioner if you have an underlying condition or are on chronic medication.

If you would like to explore a local, science based gut test built for South Africans, you can learn more about the Biomine Gut Microbiome Test on our website and see what your gut is trying to tell you.