Method: Shotgun metagenomic sequencing (CLIA 21D2062464); not cleared or approved by the FDA. Results reflect relative microbial abundance for wellness education purposes. Not intended to diagnose or treat disease and not a substitute for clinical consultation. Microbial associations are based on emerging scientific research and may change over time. Derived from laboratory results. This score or index is not an FDA-cleared test. It aids clinician-directed assessment and is not a stand-alone diagnosis.
A derived biomarker is a value that is calculated from other directly measured biomarkers rather than being measured directly in the lab.
Key benefits of Species Richness testing
- Microbial species diversity tracking - breadth component
- proxy for resilience and functional redundancy
What is Species Richness?
Species Richness is a derived count of the total number of unique microbial species detected above a threshold abundance in your gut microbiome sample by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. It measures the breadth dimension of diversity - how many different species are present.
Why is Species Richness important?
Higher species richness is often associated in microbiome research with greater microbiome resilience, more functional redundancy, and a wider repertoire of metabolic capabilities. Species richness often declines with antibiotic use, low-fiber diets, and increasing age. It is one of the most fundamental indicators of microbiome health.
What insights will I get?
Your species richness count provides a snapshot of how many distinct microbial species currently inhabit your gut. Tracking this over time - particularly through dietary interventions, antibiotic recovery, or probiotic programs - may reveal meaningful changes in microbiome breadth.
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