Privacy Policy

1. Scope of this Privacy Policy

This policy applies when you visit MicrobiomeTest.us, place an order, purchase or register a testing kit, submit a biological sample, receive testing-related services, contact customer support or use a related service offered through MicrobiomeTest.us.

By using the website or purchasing a service, you acknowledge the data-handling practices described in this policy. Where a separate consent form, laboratory instruction, checkout notice or other service-specific notice applies, that document may provide additional information for the relevant activity.

2. Information we may collect

The information collected depends on how you interact with MicrobiomeTest.us and which testing service you order.

Complete payment-card information may be processed by an independent payment provider and may not be stored directly by MicrobiomeTest.us.

3. How we may use personal information

Personal information may be used to:

• Process and manage orders and payments.
• Deliver testing kits and provide shipping updates.
• Register kits and samples and connect them with the correct order.
• Coordinate laboratory processing and communicate with testing partners.
• Provide test reports through the applicable reseller or reporting process.
• Respond to customer questions, corrections, refunds and support requests.
• Verify identity when appropriate.
• Investigate missing or damaged kits and failed or rejected samples.
• Arrange replacement or recollection kits when applicable.
• Detect fraud, misuse, abuse or security incidents.
• Maintain business, transaction, laboratory and quality-control records.
• Improve the website, services and customer experience.
• Meet legal, contractual, regulatory and recordkeeping obligations.
• Send necessary service communications.
• Send marketing communications where permitted by law and applicable consent.

We do not use identifiable testing information for unrelated advertising without an appropriate legal basis or permission.

4. Testing, samples, consent and retesting

Consent forms

Some tests may require a signed or electronically accepted consent form before a sample can be processed. A consent form may describe the purpose of the test, sample required, analysis process, test limitations, how results are provided, additional information required and how a laboratory may handle or retain a sample.

If a required consent form is not provided, laboratory processing may be prevented or delayed.

Sample collection and quality requirements

Customers should follow the collection, storage, packaging, labeling and return instructions supplied with their testing kit.

A sample may be insufficient, contaminated, damaged in transit or otherwise fail laboratory quality requirements. If retesting or a new sample is needed, customer, order and sample information may be used to:

• Explain the issue.
• Request a new sample.
• Arrange a replacement kit when applicable.
• Confirm collection information.
• Obtain missing documentation.
• Coordinate additional laboratory processing.

5. Laboratories, reseller process and service providers

Laboratory and reseller process

MicrobiomeTest.us operates through a reseller testing process. Necessary customer, order, consent, sample and testing information may be shared with independent laboratories or testing partners to provide the service ordered.

A laboratory may assign a unique identifier to a sample and use that identifier during testing. Results may be returned through the reseller process and then provided to the customer using the applicable reporting method.

Unless instructed otherwise, customers should direct order, delivery, correction, refund and privacy questions to MicrobiomeTest.us.

Other service providers

Limited information may also be disclosed to organizations that help operate or support the service, including:

• Testing-kit fulfillment providers.
• Couriers and postal services.
• Payment processors.
• Website-hosting and cloud-storage providers.
• Email and communication platforms.
• Customer-support systems.
• Analytics providers.
• Fraud-prevention and security providers.
• Legal, accounting and professional advisers.

Service providers should receive only information reasonably necessary for the applicable service. Their processing may also be governed by their own privacy notices and contractual obligations.

6. Shipping information

To deliver or return testing kits, a customer’s name, delivery address, telephone number, email address and shipment details may be provided to couriers, postal services, fulfillment providers, customs authorities or international shipping partners when relevant.

Those organizations may process information according to their own privacy practices. Shipping time is separate from laboratory turnaround time, and laboratory processing begins only after a sample reaches the laboratory and is accepted for processing.

7. When information may be disclosed

Personal information may be disclosed when reasonably necessary:

• To provide a requested service.
• With the customer’s consent.
• To process payments.
• To deliver or return testing kits.
• To complete laboratory testing and provide reports.
• To investigate fraud, misuse or security incidents.
• To respond to lawful requests.
• To enforce agreements or policies.
• To protect customers, employees, service providers or the public.
• In connection with a business sale, financing, merger, restructuring or transfer.
• When otherwise permitted or required by law.

8. Cookies, analytics and marketing communications

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies and related technologies may be used to operate essential site functions, remember preferences, understand traffic, analyze performance, detect security problems, improve usability and support marketing or advertising where permitted.

Browser settings may allow visitors to manage or block cookies. Blocking some cookies may affect site functionality. Third-party analytics or advertising providers may process technical information under their own privacy policies.

Marketing communications

Promotional messages may be sent where permitted by applicable law or when appropriate consent has been provided. Customers can unsubscribe using the option included in a promotional email or by contacting us.

Opting out of marketing does not stop necessary service messages about orders, payments, delivery, consent requirements, sample issues, laboratory processing, report availability, security notices or privacy-policy updates.

9. Data retention, storage and international processing

Retention

Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy. Retention may be needed to complete a testing service, provide support, maintain transaction or laboratory records, process refunds, resolve disputes, detect fraud or meet contractual and legal obligations.

Retention periods may vary based on the information collected, the test ordered, laboratory procedures, customer consent, applicable law and legitimate business or security needs.

Biological samples may be retained, destroyed or otherwise handled according to laboratory procedures, applicable consent and legal requirements.

Storage and processing locations

Laboratories, hosting providers, payment processors or other service providers may operate in the United States or in other countries. Personal information may therefore be processed or stored outside a customer’s state or country and may be subject to the laws and lawful-access requirements of the jurisdiction where it is processed.

We take reasonable steps to use service providers that maintain suitable privacy and security practices.

10. Information security

MicrobiomeTest.us uses reasonable administrative, technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

Safeguards may include:

• Access restrictions and password controls.
• Secure hosting.
• Encrypted transmission where appropriate.
• Unique kit or sample identifiers.
• Internal privacy procedures.
• Service-provider security requirements.

No internet transmission, electronic-storage system, shipping process or laboratory system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Customers should protect account details, passwords, order information, reports and testing documents.

11. Access, correction and privacy rights

Accessing or correcting information

Subject to applicable law and limitations, customers may request access to or correction of personal information held by MicrobiomeTest.us. Identity verification may be required before a request is completed.

Some information may not be correctable after a sample enters laboratory processing. Laboratory findings generally cannot be changed unless the laboratory confirms an administrative, identification or reporting error.

State and other privacy rights

Depending on a customer’s location, the nature of the information and whether a particular law applies, a customer may have rights to request:

• Access to personal information.
• Correction of inaccurate information.
• Deletion of certain information.
• Information about how data is used.
• Information about categories of recipients.
• Withdrawal of certain consent.
• Restriction of certain processing.
• A portable copy of certain information.
• An appeal of a privacy-request decision where applicable.

Privacy rights are not absolute and may be subject to exceptions and limitations. Some information may need to be retained for legal, laboratory, security, contractual, fraud-prevention or recordkeeping purposes.

12. Withdrawal of consent and minors

Withdrawal of consent

Where processing is based on consent, a customer may request to withdraw that consent. Withdrawal may not apply retroactively and may not be possible after a kit is dispatched, a sample is received, laboratory processing begins, a report is generated or information must be retained for legal, contractual, security or fraud-prevention reasons.

Withdrawing consent may prevent MicrobiomeTest.us or a laboratory from completing the requested service.

Children and minors

Services are not intended to be ordered independently by children who cannot provide legally valid consent. When testing involves a minor, authorization from a parent, legal guardian or other legally authorized person may be required.

Additional consent forms, identification or relationship documentation may be requested before processing.

13. External websites

MicrobiomeTest.us may link to third-party websites. MicrobiomeTest.us is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, availability or content of external websites.

Review the privacy notice of any third-party website or service before providing personal information to it.

14. Privacy and security incidents

If MicrobiomeTest.us becomes aware of a privacy or security incident involving personal information, it will assess the incident and take reasonable steps based on:

• The type of information involved.
• The potential risk to affected individuals.
• Applicable legal requirements.
• The actions needed to contain and investigate the incident.

Customers should contact MicrobiomeTest.us promptly if they believe an account, report, testing information or other personal information has been accessed or disclosed without authorization.

15. Changes to this policy and how to contact us

Changes to this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated to reflect changes in services, business practices, technology, laboratory relationships, legal requirements or privacy and security procedures. The revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.

Contact MicrobiomeTest.us

For privacy questions, access requests, correction requests, deletion requests or concerns, contact:

MicrobiomeTest.us
Email: info@microbiometest.us