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"Hair Trace Elements" is a non-invasive study of the elemental composition of hair. The profile quantitatively determines 39 chemical elements: 17 indicators of toxic metals and 22 indicators of essential and other elements. Additionally, five ratios and a total toxic elements index are calculated.
During growth, part of the elements circulating in the body is fixed in the hair structure. Hair can be considered a material that reflects the intake and elimination of certain elements over the growth period of the sampled strand, not just at the moment of collection. The value of such a time profile depends on the specific element.
Some potentially toxic elements can accumulate in hair at higher concentrations than in blood or urine. The study can provide additional information about recent or prolonged exposure to arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, antimony, and mercury. The choice of material for confirming exposure depends on the element and circumstances.
The profile also describes the content of nutrient elements in hair, including calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and iron. These results are evaluated together with nutrition, complaints, and other laboratory indicators to determine the need for further investigation of possible elemental metabolism disorders.
Measurement reliability depends on proper collection, laboratory sample preparation, analytical method, and quality control. Shampoos, dyeing, bleaching, chemical perming, and straightening can add elements externally or alter their content in hair. Therefore, assessing possible external contamination is a mandatory part of interpretation.
The "Hair Trace Elements" study provides information about recent and prolonged exposure to potentially toxic metals, as well as the average content of certain nutrient elements in hair over the growth period.
Analysis of the elemental composition of hair provides information that, combined with symptoms and other laboratory indicators, can help the physician in the early diagnosis of physiological disorders related to changes in the metabolism of essential and toxic elements.
Concentrations of certain toxic elements in hair can be 200–300 times higher than in blood or urine. The laboratory describes hair as the material of choice for detecting recent exposure to arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, antimony, and mercury. This characteristic does not mean that hair is the optimal material in every clinical situation: the choice of confirmatory test depends on the element and exposure circumstances.
Element content in hair does not reflect their reserves in the body or blood levels. Deviations alone do not confirm deficiency or poisoning. Treatment selection requires comprehensive evaluation of clinical data and confirmatory tests.
Alopecia or hair loss.
Fatigue, depressive state.
Excessive fish consumption.
Arterial hypertension.
Impaired glucose tolerance.
Malabsorption — impaired nutrient absorption.
Parkinsonian symptoms.
Erectile dysfunction or decreased testosterone production.
Possible contact with toxic elements.
Vision impairment.
ICP-MS — inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The method quantitatively determines the concentration of chemical elements in hair. Measurement units – µg/g.
Please note that the research method and reference values may vary depending on the equipment and test systems used.
No special diet or fasting required. Do not stop medications or supplements on your own.
Preference is given to untreated hair from the scalp. Dyeing, bleaching, and chemical perming can alter the result. This must be reported to the laboratory in advance.
You can obtain the kit with scale and bag at the laboratory department.
Wash and dry your hands, sign the bag indicating full name, date of birth, date and time of collection.
Cut hair as close to the scalp as possible with stainless steel scissors, preferably from five areas of the occiput.
Keep only the closest 2.5 cm to the scalp of each cut strand, discard the rest.
Collect approximately 0.25 g using the scale from the kit, place it in the bag and seal it tightly.
Indicate the collection site, hair treatment information, and hair care products used in the questionnaire.
Seal the signed bag with the sample tightly. Place it together with the completed questionnaire into the kit box, then into the transport bag.
Deliver the material to the laboratory as soon as possible, following the shipping instructions provided with the kit.