Draft — pending legal review. The final wording of this policy is being finalised with qualified counsel. The structure below reflects what the published policy will cover.
DRAFT — pending legal & scientific review. Not legal advice.
Last updated: 10 July 2026
What you are agreeing to (summary)
In plain terms, by agreeing to this consent you are telling us you understand and accept the following:
You are sending us a biological sample (for example, a stool, vaginal, oral, or skin swab) so we can study the microbes living in or on your body.
We will process your sample in a laboratory, extract microbial DNA, and perform genetic sequencing (such as 16S rRNA, shotgun whole-genome sequencing, or metatranscriptomics).
From that sequencing we generate data about your microbial community and turn it into educational, wellness-oriented reports.
Our reports are for education and general wellness only. They are not a medical diagnosis, not a test for any disease, and not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Separately and optionally, you may choose to let us use a de-identified version of your data for research. This is entirely your choice and can be withdrawn later.
You can withdraw your consent at any time.
Please read the full text below before agreeing.
The sample and how it is handled
You are consenting to the collection, packaging, and shipping of your biological sample to our laboratory or processing partner at Samples may be processed by qualified third-party laboratories in India or another location disclosed to the customer before sample submission or processing. The specific processing laboratory and country will be identified in the order documentation or test report where applicable.. Samples are handled in accordance with our operating procedures and applicable VAMS BioInnovation Private Limited is not itself represented as an accredited clinical laboratory. Laboratory accreditation, quality certification and permitted testing scope vary by processing partner and will be disclosed for the applicable service. No accreditation should be inferred unless expressly stated and independently verifiable. requirements. Once received, your sample is logged against a pseudonymised identifier rather than your name, so that laboratory staff work with codes rather than directly identifying details wherever practical.
Laboratory processing and sequencing
You are consenting to laboratory processing of your sample, which includes extraction of nucleic acids (DNA and, where relevant, RNA), preparation of sequencing libraries, and DNA/microbial sequencing using one or more methods (16S rRNA sequencing, shotgun whole-genome sequencing, and/or metatranscriptomics). This processing produces sequencing-derived data describing the composition and relative abundance of the microbial community in your sample.
The nature of your data, and incidental human DNA
The primary purpose of our sequencing is to characterise your microbiome — the community of bacteria, and where applicable other microorganisms, present in your sample. Our reporting focuses on microbial community data, not on your personal human genome.
Because biological samples can contain some of your own (human) cells, sequencing may incidentally capture fragments of human DNA. We do not use this material to analyse or report on your personal human genetic traits, ancestry, or health predispositions. Where technically feasible, incidental human sequence data is filtered out, minimised, or destroyed as part of our standard bioinformatics workflow. We will treat any human genetic data that is retained as special-category / sensitive personal data.
Purposes of processing
We process your sample and the resulting data in order to:
receive, track, and laboratory-process your sample;
generate sequencing-derived microbial data;
produce your educational wellness report(s);
provide customer support and respond to your queries;
maintain records, quality control, and security; and
meet legal, regulatory, and accounting obligations.
We rely on your consent for processing this sensitive personal data, in a manner consistent with India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and other applicable Indian law. You may withdraw consent for any optional use, raise a grievance, nominate another individual to exercise your rights, and complain to the Data Protection Board of India — as described in our Privacy Policy.
Optional: de-identified research use (separate opt-in)
This section is entirely optional. You can accept the service above without agreeing to research use.
If you separately opt in, you allow us to use a de-identified version of your microbial sequencing data — with direct identifiers such as your name, contact details, and account information removed — for research and product-improvement purposes, which may include improving our methods, building reference datasets, and general scientific study of the microbiome.
Benefit: contributing to a better understanding of the microbiome and to improvements in wellness reporting.
Limits: de-identification reduces but cannot always guarantee the elimination of all re-identification risk; genetic data is inherently distinctive. We do not sell your identifiable data.
Revocable: you can withdraw this research opt-in at any time, separately from your main consent, by contacting us at legal@vamsbiome.com. Withdrawal stops future research use. Data already incorporated into completed or ongoing research, or into aggregated/anonymised datasets, may not be able to be withdrawn or recalled.
De-identification and pseudonymisation
Throughout our process we use pseudonymisation (replacing identifying details with codes) and, for research use, de-identification (removing direct identifiers). These measures reduce risk but are described honestly: with genetic and microbial data, no method can promise absolute or permanent anonymity.
Data retention and sample destruction
We keep your physical sample for Unless a different period is disclosed and consented to, residual biological samples will normally be destroyed within 30 days after the final report is issued. Samples may be retained longer only for necessary repeat testing, quality investigation, legal requirements or separately consented research., after which it is securely destroyed unless a longer period is required by law or agreed with you. We retain your sequencing-derived data and reports for Retention depends on the record type and purpose. Generally: order, invoice and statutory business records for up to 8 years; identifiable microbiome test data and reports for up to 3 years after report delivery or account closure; raw sequencing files for up to 12 months after report delivery; support records for up to 3 years; and consent records for as long as necessary to demonstrate compliance. Data may be retained longer where required by law, litigation hold or explicit research consent, and may be deleted or anonymised earlier when no longer necessary., after which data is deleted or irreversibly anonymised, subject to legal, regulatory, and record-keeping obligations. De-identified data used under a research opt-in may be retained for the duration of the relevant research.
Your right to withdraw consent
You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting legal@vamsbiome.com. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before you withdrew.
Please understand the practical consequences:
If you withdraw before your sample has been processed, we will stop and, where possible, destroy your sample without producing a report.
If you withdraw after processing, we may be unable to reverse work already completed, and some data may be retained where required by law.
Withdrawing consent for core processing means we cannot provide the service to you.
No guarantee of specific outcomes
Microbiome science is evolving. We do not guarantee any particular result, insight, health improvement, or wellness outcome from using our service or reading our reports. Findings reflect a sample at a point in time and can vary with collection, diet, and other factors.
Important: educational, not medical
Our reports are educational and wellness-oriented. They are NOT a medical diagnosis, screening, or treatment, and must not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions, and seek urgent medical care for any urgent concern.
By selecting "I agree," you confirm you are of legal age in your jurisdiction, have read and understood this consent, and agree to the core sample and data processing described above. Research use requires the separate opt-in.
Contact: VAMS BioInnovation Private Limited, legal@vamsbiome.com.
Version and Change History
Document: Biological Sample & Data Consent
Version: 1.0
Effective date: 10 July 2026
Change history: v1.0 (10 July 2026) — Initial publication.