Theragen Health, a subsidiary of Lotte Healthcare, said it has recently opened a new microbiome lab in Pankyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, significantly expanding its capabilities in the field of microbial analysis.
The laboratory is equipped to handle up to 100,000 DNA samples annually.
The microbiome, which refers to the community of microbes living within the human body, has been a subject of growing interest across various fields, including healthcare, nutrition, cosmetics, and wellness.
The lab enables Theragen Health to perform a range of processes in-house. These include the extraction and transformation of microbial DNA, as well as its decoding and analysis. This integrated approach aims to streamline operations and reduce reliance on external services.
A central aspect of the lab's work will be supporting and advancing Theragen Health's TeraBiome service. TeraBiome is a service that assesses health based on gut microbiota and provides personalized health management recommendations.
The service includes offerings tailored for medical institutions, direct-to-consumer applications, and child-specific products.
The establishment of the lab is expected to reduce the time frame for the TeraBiome service, from sample collection to result delivery, from three weeks to two. The lab incorporates technologies like the AVITI genomic analysis sequencing system and the Tapestation 4200 for DNA analysis quality control, enhancing the precision and reliability of its results.
Beyond its product-related applications, Theragen Health intends to use the lab for wider health and environmental research.
This includes studying the links between gut microbial communities and health or disease, as well as analyzing microbial populations in various environmental settings for conservation and restoration purposes.
"In collaboration with Theragen Health microbiome lab, we will be launching a private brand (PB) microbiome test kit in the second half of the year," a Lotte Healthcare official said. "Since the microbiome is constantly changing depending on diet and exercise, it will be a good indicator for people to check their lifestyle regularly and personalize their healthcare."