Seven Gut Microbiome Tests, One Sample of Poop
A NIST study found home gut microbiome tests can give conflicting answers from the same sample. The problem may lie in the tests themselves.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is one of the nation’s oldest physical science laboratories, founded by Congress in 1901 to strengthen U.S. industrial competitiveness by building a world-class measurement infrastructure, and now operates as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its measurements and standards underpin countless technologies, from atomic clocks, computer chips, and nanoscale devices to electronic health records, the smart power grid, and earthquake-resistant skyscrapers.
A NIST study found home gut microbiome tests can give conflicting answers from the same sample. The problem may lie in the tests themselves.
NIST has released technical findings on the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse that killed 98 people. Investigators traced the disaster to two failed garage column connections beneath the pool deck. Weak safety margins, design and construction deviations, and long-term corrosion left the Surfside building dangerously vulnerable. A final report with safety recommendations is forthcoming.