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- Measurement of toxic and essential
elements
- Inexpensive, noninvasive
- Analysis by ICP-MS
- Result specific commentary
provided
- Requires only 0.25 g hair
Extensive research established
that scalp hair element levels are
related to human systemic levels. The
strength of this relationship varies
for specific elements, and many researchers
consider hair as the tissue of choice
for toxic and several nutrient elements.
Unlike blood, hair element levels are
not regulated by homeostatic mechanisms.
Thus, deviations in hair element levels
often appear prior to overt symptoms
and can thereby be a valuable preliminary
tool for predicting the development
of physiological abnormalities.
Since 1972, Doctor’s
Data, Inc. has performed over four million
hair elements tests for physicians and
other health care providers, accumulating
what is probably the largest database regarding
this procedure.
To view a sample Test Report click here.
To
order this test click here |
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Why hair?
With respect to its contained
elements, hair is essentially an excretory tissue
rather than a functional tissue. Hair element
analysis provides important information which,
in conjunction with symptoms and other laboratory
values, can assist the physician with an early
diagnosis of physiological disorders associated
with aberrations in essential and toxic element
metabolism.
As protein is synthesized in
the hair follicle, elements are incorporated
permanently into the hair with no further exchange
or equilibration with other tissues. Scalp hair
is easy to sample, and because it grows an average
of one to two cm per month, it contains a “temporal
record” of element metabolism and exposure
to toxic elements.
Nutrient elements including magnesium,
chromium, zinc, copper and selenium are obligatory
co-factors for hundreds of important enzymes
and also are essential for the normal functions
of vitamins. The levels of these elements in
hair are correlated with levels in organs and
other tissues.
Toxic elements may be 200-300
times more highly concentrated in hair than in
blood or urine. Therefore, hair is the tissue
of choice for detection of recent exposure to
elements such as arsenic, aluminum, cadmium,
lead, antimony, and mercury. The CDC acknowledges
the value of hair mercury levels as a maternal
and infant marker for exposure to neurotoxic
methylmercury from fish.
Through recent vast improvements
in technology, instrumentation, and application
of scientific protocols, hair element analysis
has become a valuable tool in providing dependable
and useful data for physicians and their patients.
The U.S. Environmental Protection agency stated
in a recent report that “...if hair samples
are properly collected and cleaned, and analyzed
by the best analytic methods, using standards
and blanks as required, in a clean and reliable
laboratory by experienced personnel, the data
are reliable.” (U.S.E.P.A. 600/4-79-049)
Hair, however, is vulnerable
to external elemental contamination by means
of certain shampoos, bleaches, dyes, and curing
or straightening treatments. Therefore, the first
step in the interpretation of a hair element
report is to rule out sources of external contamination.
Hair element analysis is a valuable
and inexpensive screen for physiological excess,
deficiency or maldistribution of elements. It
should not be considered a stand-alone diagnostic
test for essential element function, and should
be used in conjunction with patient symptoms
and other laboratory tests. All
lab tests can be done through the mail in the privacy
of your own home, except blood tests, we send you
to a lab to have your blood drawn for these. After
you pay for the test we mail you the kit, the results
take two weeks, the test results will be mailed
to us and we will call you to go over the results,
its that easy! All tests include the consultation
for the report of findings.Click on test of interest
on the left for more information.
Call our office for more details: 800-956-7083 OR
818-707-3126. |
hCG
