Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
“Tissue mineral analysis is unique in that it inexpensively provides information directly about cellular activity – the main site of nutritional metabolism.” Dr Lawrence D Wilson
What is Hair Mineral Analysis?
A hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) simply stated, is a screening test that measures the mineral content of your hair. However, a hair tissue mineral analysis is much more than a test for minerals.
Providing a mineral blueprint of one’s biochemistry, a hair tissue mineral analysis can provide information about one’s metabolic rate, energy levels, sugar and carbohydrate tolerance, stage of stress, immune system and glandular activity.
The hair sample is sent over to the US and the analysis done by Analytical Research Labs, Inc. Their test screens for the level of 20 minerals and toxic metals in a sample of hair. It is a tissue mineral biopsy that is non-invasive, relatively inexpensive and extremely accurate. ARL uses sophisticated instrumentation – the Perkin Elmer Elan 9000 ICP Mass Spectrometer to assess mineral levels in parts per million or parts per billion.
Hair, like all other body tissues, contains minerals that are deposited as the hair grows. Although the hair is dead, the minerals remain as the hair continues to grow out. A sample of hair cut close to the scalp provides information about the mineral activity in the hair that took place over the past three to four months, depending on the rate of hair growth.
Hair Sample
A sample of your hair should be ideally taken from near the nape of your neck in order to get new hair growth. About an inch of hair is required for the test. If you are suffering from hair loss, underarm or pubic hair can be used. All the instructions are in the hair test kit envelope for you to complete at home and send directly in the envelope provided. It usually takes around 2 weeks for a report to be sent.
The results
Test results are printed on an easy-to-read graph. The printed graph includes the mineral results, major mineral ratios and the oxidation type.
A 15-20 page report from ARL is also included. This describes one’s metabolic rate, energy levels, sugar and carbohydrate tolerance, immune system, autonomic balance, glandular activity and metabolic trends, a personal dietary supplement program, basic diet recommendations and other information that can be inferred from the test results.
The report is posted direct to you or if you are local to the clinic you can collect.