The vivaLAB Testing Protocol: A Deep Dive into Your Body’s Core Data

In the pursuit of optimal health, we’re often told to listen to our bodies. But what if your body could give you a precise, data-driven report? What if you could see the exact biochemical processes and microbial communities that determine your energy, mood, and long-term wellness?

This is the power of modern health testing. However, not all tests are created equal. A simple blood test, while crucial, only provides a limited snapshot. To get a truly comprehensive picture, you must go deeper into the two core engines of your health: your metabolism and your gut microbiome.

At vivaLAB, our protocol is built on a foundation of analysing these two dynamic systems in the context of your daily life. Here’s a breakdown of what we test, how we test, and why this comprehensive approach is the key to unlocking your true health potential.

What is a Metabolic Health Test and Why Does it Matter?

What is it? 

Your metabolism is the collection of all biochemical processes that convert food into energy. It’s the engine that keeps you alive and thriving. A metabolic test, specifically one using a urine sample, is a non-invasive, powerful window into how well this engine is running.

How does it work?

When your body processes nutrients, it creates metabolic byproducts. Your urine is a primary way your body clears these compounds, and by analysing them, we can create a detailed "metabolic fingerprint" (1). Instead of just measuring what’s in your blood at one moment, a urine test provides a comprehensive summary of your metabolic activity.

Our lab uses advanced techniques like mass spectrometry and chromatography to identify and quantify hundreds of these different metabolites. This allows us to see:

• Nutritional Status: Are you efficiently processing key vitamins, or are you showing markers of deficiency?
• Energy Production: How well are your cells' energy factories (mitochondria) functioning?
• Detoxification Pathways: Is your body effectively clearing toxins, or are certain pathways overloaded?
• Enzyme Function: Are there bottlenecks that point to subtle enzyme deficiencies or imbalances?

Why does it matter? 

A urine metabolic test can uncover hidden issues that a standard blood test might miss. It provides unique insights into how effectively your body is processing nutrients, managing inflammation, and producing energy at a cellular level.

What is a Gut Microbiome Test? (And Why All Tests Are Not Equal)

What is it? 

Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, and viruses—collectively known as the gut microbiome. This ecosystem is a central control panel for your health, influencing everything from digestion and immunity to metabolism and even brain function via the gut-brain axis (2). A gut microbiome test analyses this community to see who is there and, more importantly, what they are doing.

How does it work?

A microbiome test analyses the DNA from a simple stool sample. But the method of analysis is the most critical factor.

1. 16S rRNA Testing (The Common Method): Many tests use 16S sequencing, which looks at a single "barcode" gene in bacteria. It’s a good, cost-effective way to get a basic overview of the genera (broad families) of bacteria you have. The problem? It can't distinguish between different species or strains, and it completely misses fungi and viruses.
2. Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing (The vivaLAB Method): This is the gold standard. Instead of one gene, we sequence all the genetic material in the sample (3). This gives us two crucial advantages:
   • High-Resolution Identification: We can see exactly which species and strains are present. This is vital, as different strains of the same bacteria can have opposite effects (one beneficial, one harmful) (4).
   • Functional Analysis: We don't just see who is there; we see what they are capable of doing. By analysing all the genes, we can see your microbiome's "functional potential"—its capacity to produce anti-inflammatory compounds like butyrate, synthesise vitamins, or metabolise hormones (5).

Why does it matter?

Understanding your gut microbiome at a high-resolution, functional level is the difference between guessing and knowing. It allows us to move beyond generic advice (like "eat more fibre") and provide a precise, targeted plan. This deep data reveals the root cause of issues like bloating, brain fog, and inflammation, giving you a clear path to rebalancing your internal ecosystem.

Why a Single Test Isn't Enough: The Power of Retesting

Health Isn't a One-Time Fix 

Your body is not static. Your metabolism and your microbiome are dynamic systems that are constantly changing in response to your diet, stress, sleep, age, and environment (6).

A single test is a powerful baseline—a snapshot of your health today. But its true power is unlocked when it's used as a map over time.

How does it work? 

Regular retesting (e.g., every 6 cycles/months) creates a dynamic feedback loop. It allows you to:

1. Track Your Progress: See objective, data-driven proof that your new nutrition plan and supplements are working.
2. See Trends Over Time: Are you trending in the right direction? Is your microbial diversity increasing? Is your metabolic efficiency improving?
3. Catch Imbalances Early: Retesting can catch subtle negative shifts before they turn into noticeable symptoms, allowing you to make proactive adjustments.

Why does it matter? 

Retesting is what turns insight into a lifelong strategy. It ensures your health plan evolves with you, remaining perfectly tailored to your body's current needs.

The Lifestyle Assessment – Adding Your Real-World Context

What is it? 

The most advanced biological tests in the world are meaningless without context. This is where the vivaLAB lifestyle assessment comes in. It's a comprehensive digital questionnaire that captures the real-world factors that directly influence your biology. This includes:

• Day-to-Day Life: Your perceived energy levels, mood, and stress patterns.
• Diet & Nutrition: What you eat, when you eat, and your specific food preferences.
• Sleep & Exercise: The quality and duration of your sleep and your typical activity patterns.
• Clinical History: Your personal health history, any current medications, and your family history of disease.

Why does it matter? The Power of Correlation 

This lifestyle data is the key that unlocks actionable insights from your biological data. Your test results don't happen in a vacuum; they are a direct consequence of your life. By correlating these data streams, we can move from what is happening to why it's happening.

• Example 1: Stress & The Gut: Your microbiome test might show low microbial diversity. By itself, the solution is unclear. But when correlated with your lifestyle assessment showing high chronic stress and poor sleep, a clear picture emerges. We know that high cortisol from stress can be detrimental to beneficial bacteria (7). The primary recommendation, therefore, isn't just a probiotic; it's a targeted plan to manage stress, which in turn allows your gut to heal.
• Example 2: Diet & Metabolism: Your metabolic test might show high markers for oxidative stress. When correlated with your diet log showing a low intake of fruits and vegetables, the "why" becomes obvious: your antioxidant intake is too low to meet your body's metabolic demands.
• Example 3: Family History & Prevention: You may have a family history of heart disease. Our tests can then look for specific early-warning signs in your biology—like gut-derived inflammatory markers (e.g., TMAO) or metabolic imbalances—allowing for a precise, proactive plan to manage your genetic risk.

The vivaLAB Protocol – A World-First Integration

This is the core of the vivaBALANCE protocol and what makes it a world-first in personalised, consumer-friendly health: we don't just give you one piece of the puzzle.

Other services might offer a microbiome test. Some might offer a metabolic test. None integrate these two deep biological datasets with a comprehensive lifestyle analysis into a single, cohesive, AI-powered report.

• We use metabolic testing to understand your body's engine.
• We use shotgun metagenomics to get a high-resolution, functional map of your gut ecosystem.
• We use a lifestyle assessment to provide the real-world context for your data.
• We use AI-powered analysis to integrate all three of these massive data streams.
• We use regular retesting to ensure your plan adapts as you do.

By combining these advanced testing methods, we move beyond generic, one-size-fits-all advice and provide a comprehensive, evolving, and truly personalised roadmap to your best health.

References:

1. Bouatra, S., Aziat, F., Mandal, R., et al. (2013). The Human Urine Metabolome. PLoS ONE, 8(9), e73076.
2. Cryan, J. F., O'Riordan, K. J., Cowan, C. S. M., et al. (2019). The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Physiological Reviews, 99(4), 1877–2013.
3. Quince, C., Walker, A. W., Simpson, J. T., et al. (2017). Shotgun metagenomics, from sampling to analysis. Nature Biotechnology, 35(9), 833–844.
4. Ranjan, R., Rani, A., Metwally, A., et al. (2016). Analysis of the microbiome: Advantages of whole genome shotgun versus 16S amplicon sequencing. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 469(4), 967–977.
5. Nash, A. K., Auchtung, T. A., Wong, M. C., et al. (2N.D.). The gut mycobiome of the Human Microbiome Project healthy cohort. Microbiome, 5(1), 153.
6. Rothschild, D., Weissbrod, O., Barkan, E., et al. (2018). Environment dominates over host genetics in shaping human gut microbiota. Nature, 555(7695), 210–215.
7. Madison, A., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2019). Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human