How long until the kit arrives?+
For self-collection orders paid through our online checkout, kits are dispatched from our Melbourne lab within 1 to 2 business days of payment. Delivery within Australia typically takes 2 to 5 business days, so you can expect to receive your kit within roughly a week of placing your order, and we will email you a tracking link as soon as it ships. For vet on-site orders, no kit is shipped from BAARK; your vet uses their own collection consumables and arranges the appointment with you directly.
How do I collect a sample?+
For self-collection orders, each kit contains step-by-step instructions, a faecal collection tube with stabilising buffer, an oral swab tube with stabiliser, gloves, and a prepaid return mailer. You collect a small faecal sample from a fresh stool using the spoon attached to the tube cap, and an oral swab from inside your pet's cheek and gumline. The whole process takes a few minutes, no special equipment required, and the stabilisers preserve both samples at room temperature for up to 14 days in transit. For vet on-site orders, your vet handles collection using their own consumables.
Does joining the wait list cost anything?+
No. Joining the wait list is free and takes no payment. You are reserving a place in the priority queue for the next run from our new Melbourne lab, and holding the $249 introductory price for when ordering reopens. When kits are back, priority-queue members are emailed first with a link to complete their order. You can leave the wait list at any time.
What if the sample doesn't yield enough DNA for sequencing?+
If your initial sample doesn't pass our quality control checks for sequencing, we will email you and arrange a recollection at no extra charge to BAARK. For self-collection orders, we ship a replacement collection kit. For vet on-site orders, your vet recollects at the next appointment as part of the original consultation. Sample yield issues are uncommon (most pets produce a usable sample on the first attempt), but if they happen we resolve them by recollecting rather than charging for a second test.
How is my pet's data handled?+
All samples are processed in our Melbourne laboratory and all data is stored in Australia under the Privacy Act 1988. Your pet's microbiome data is used to generate your report and, in de-identified and aggregated form, to improve our reference cohort and our analysis pipelines. We never sell or share identifiable data with third parties without your explicit consent.
Do I need to visit a vet?+
No. The self-collection kit is designed for at-home sample collection by pet owners and includes everything needed for both samples. If you prefer your vet to collect the samples, the vet on-site option uses your vet's own collection consumables, and they post the samples to our Melbourne lab from their clinic. Nothing is shipped from BAARK for vet on-site orders. The vet's consultation fee is paid directly to them, not to BAARK.
What's different about the vet on-site option?+
Vet on-site is for customers who prefer their vet to collect the samples. Three things differ from the standard at-home flow. First, your vet uses their own collection consumables (tubes, swabs); BAARK does not ship a kit. Second, your vet posts the samples to our Melbourne lab directly from their clinic, at their cost. Third, the vet's consultation fee is paid directly to them, not to BAARK; BAARK only charges the $249 test price. If a recollection is needed because the first sample doesn't pass quality control, your vet recollects at no extra charge to BAARK as part of the original appointment.
Is this a diagnostic test?+
BAARK is a wellness screening service, not a diagnostic test. Our reports profile your pet's microbiome and screen for selected parasites; they are not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat any disease. Findings should be reviewed with your veterinarian, who can interpret them in the context of your pet's clinical history and decide whether further investigation or treatment is warranted.