By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : September 10, 2026 6:25 pm
The company has positioned BugSpeaks as a non-diagnostic, wellness-focused test, rather than a tool for diagnosing or treating medical conditions.
Leucine Rich Bio Pvt. Ltd., a South Asia-based microbiome company, has launched the BugSpeaks Skin Microbiome Test 2026 Edition, expanding its metagenomic analysis from five primary factors in the previous version to 11 skin-related traits.
The upgraded test is designed to provide deeper insights into skin wellness through analysis of the microbial communities present on the skin. Leucine Rich Bio is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
The 2026 edition assesses collagen production, ceramide production, elasticity maintenance, pH maintenance, moisture retention, epidermal integrity, antioxidant defence, photoprotection and resilience, sebum regulation, inflammation tendency, and reactivity and tolerance.
These traits are mapped into five broader skin-health impacts — barrier strength, hydration status, sensitivity profile, repair and recovery, and ageing and preservation — with results presented through an integrated visual scorecard.
“The 2026 upgrade reflects our commitment to translating complex microbiome science into practical tools for better skin health,” said Dr Debojyoti Dhar, Co-Founder and Director, Leucine Rich Bio.
The test uses high-throughput microbial DNA sequencing from a skin swab and analyses multiple microbial kingdoms, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, viruses and eukaryotes. It also provides pathogen characterisation and risk profiling.
The company has introduced a revised population benchmarking system using three-bin and seven-bin scales, with Bin 4 positioned as the optimal benchmark against healthy reference populations.
The company said the insights could be used by consumers seeking preventive and anti-ageing skincare as well as by dermatologists and aesthetic centres looking for additional information to support personalised interventions.
“We incorporated deeper functional metagenomic potential across multiple microbial kingdoms. We also refined population benchmarking. This enables more precise recommendations for individuals and practitioners alike,” said Kumar Sankaran, CEO and Co-Founder, Leucine Rich Bio.
The company first introduced the BugSpeaks facial skin microbiome test in 2025. According to Leucine Rich Bio, the 2026 edition incorporates user feedback and ongoing research while expanding the depth of analysis.