What is Hair Testing (HTMA)?
Mar 19, 2023Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can be a really informative test to assess your underlying core body functions.
Unlike blood tests which indicate a 'snap shot' in time, hair testing displays a 3 month average of how your health has been functioning.
Often if you're someone who feels like you have persistent issues, ranging from poor immune function, fatigue, acne, reflux, hormonal imbalances and more... But your blood tests are 'normal' this test could help you undercover the driving force behind your symptoms.
Why Hair Test?
When we think about 'looking under the hood' of your body, there are many different ways we can do this.
Often if you have new symptoms, or symptoms you haven't had checked, the best thing to do first is to visit your medical practitioner and exclude anything that is potentially life threatening. They will often send you for tests that range from blood tests to radiographs.
If you're someone who has been checked for serious illness, and your results have come back 'normal', then this is great news! It can seem disheartening though, when we feel like something is wrong and the tests can't give us the answer.
This is where hair testing comes in. Think of it like sending yourself for a blood test for a broken arm, it's the wrong test, you need an X-ray.
The same is for dysfunction in your body. Often blood test parameters are set to look for pathology or 'disease'. Hair testing picks up imbalances before you get to that stage.
What can I test for?
Nutritional Elements:
Minerals are essential to health. They are the building blocks of life. Your body cannot make substances like proteins, hormones, antibodies, digestive juices and acids without them. Each nutritional mineral is essential for health and incorporated into molecules and compounds needed to keep our body functioning. A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis will test for the following nutritional elements:
- Potassium
- Copper
- Zinc
- Phosphorus
- Boron
- Selenium
- Cobalt
- Molybdenum
- Sulphur
Additional Elements:
Your Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis also tests for 14 additional elements. Research suggests they are involved in digestive function, mood, kidney health, insulin sensitivity, skin health, antibacterial function and the metabolism of other minerals. Although there is less research for these elements, high levels still indicate potential toxicity and may interfere with nutritional elements and so act like toxic elements. And many additional elements are found in the manufacturing industry or in certain trades.
- Geranium
- Barium
- Bismuth
- Rubidium
- Lithium
- Nickel
- Platinum
- Thallium
- Vanadium
- Strontium
- Tin
- Titanium
- Tungsten
- Zirconium
Toxic Elements:
Toxic Elements do not belong in the body as they have no known biological function. These will impact the absorption, retention, utilization and metabolic function of nutritional elements. These elements are antagonistic to nutritional elements and will displace them.
- Uranium
- Arsenic
- Beryllium
- Mercury
- Cadmium
- Lead
- Aluminium
How long does it take to get my results?
We will receive your test results and report in the mail approximately 2-3 weeks from the date we receive your hair sample and payment. We will then continue with your rebooked appointment.
Can I do it with dyed hair?
If all of the hair has been chemically treated, wait until sufficient new virgin growth has emerged to allow collection. (Why not select small sections of hair at the back of the head that are hidden from view and skip doing the re-growth dye for a couple of months! )
The hair should also be free of all gels, oils and hair creams prior to sample collection. For those individuals environmentally and/or occupationally exposed to external contaminants, (welding, mining, etc…) special care should be taken to limit exposure between washing of the hair and the collection of the sampled hair.
How do i prepare the hair sample?
Proper collection of the hair sample is extremely important and cannot be over-emphasized. Collection should be done under professional supervision, or by someone trained in proper collection procedures within a clean environment. The following guidelines should be maintained to insure the collection of a metabolically representative sample and to avoid the introduction of external contaminants prior to, during and following the collection process.
Sample Type
Scalp hair is the only source recommended for analysis. Pubic and other body hair should only be used as a last resort if scalp hair is not available.
Note: Pubic and other body hair is only recommended for confirmation of elevated toxic metals found in the scalp hair and/or to rule out external contamination of the scalp hair.
Preparation
The portion of hair to be collected should be freshly washed with plain shampoo (definitely not medicated eg anti-dandruff), well rinsed and untreated, i.e. not permed, dyed or bleached.
If all of the hair has been chemically treated, wait until sufficient new virgin growth has emerged to allow collection. (Why not select small sections of hair at the back of the head that are hidden from view and skip doing the re-growth dye for a couple of months! )
The hair should also be free of all gels, oils and hair creams prior to sample collection. For those individuals environmentally and/or occupationally exposed to external contaminants, (welding, mining, etc…) special care should be taken to limit exposure between washing of the hair and the collection of the sampled hair.
Location
Each collected sample should be taken in small portions from at least four to five different locations of the scalp. The recommended areas for collection are the nape of the neck, posterior vertex and posterior temporal regions.
Note: All reference range correlations, dietary recommendations and interpretive report content assumes that the complete hair specimen originated solely from the above defined regions of the scalp.
Sample Length
High-grade stainless steel scissors or thinning shears should be used to cut the hair as close to the scalp as possible. The length of the collected hair should not exceed one and one-half inches. The proximal portion (one and one-half inches closest to the root) should be retained and the excess discarded.
Note: The proximal portion is reflective of the most recent metabolic activity.
Weight
The weight requested for a hair specimen is 125 milligrams (0.125 Gram). Use of the TEI Hair Weight Scale Cards will ensure the collection of sufficient sample weight. However, if a Hair Weight Scale is not available, one full teaspoon should approximate the weight requirement.
Packaging
Upon cutting the sample, the hair should be placed directly into a clean hair specimen envelope normally provided by the laboratory and then sealed with the glue flap only. Do not use plastic bags in place of the standard paper envelopes to hold the hair specimen. In addition, do not use staples, paper clips, adhesive tape, aluminum foil, or other metal and paper material of any kind to seal, secure or wrap the hair envelope and/or the hair specimen contained within.
Submittal Form
Each sample specimen must be accompanied by a standard HTMA Laboratory Submittal Form, completed in its entirety. This will be sent out to you in your booking confirmation email.
Want to view a sample test?
Want to view a sample test?
The test is a comprehensive way to assess dysfunction in your body on a functional level. If you've suffered from persistent health conditions, this test may shed light on the contributing dysfunction in your body.
