Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)?

• HTMA is a safe and non-invasive pathology test.
• It measures the levels and comparative ratios of nutrient and toxic minerals found in hair.
  
• It can give reliable data on more than 35 nutrient and toxic minerals, and over 25 important mineral ratios that can aid in the discovery of nutrient mineral imbalances or toxic mineral excesses that may be affecting your health.
  

Why test for minerals?

• Minerals are essential for growth, healing, vitality and well-being.
  
• They provide structural support in bones and teeth, and they maintain the body's pH and water balance, nerve activity, muscle contractions, energy production and enzyme reactions.
• They are the basic ‘spark plugs' of life.
• Many health conditions are aggravated by mineral imbalances and toxic metal excesses, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, migraines, learning difficulties and hyperactivity in children, to name just a few
  

How is the hair sample taken?

• The hair should be clean, well rinsed, untreated and uncoloured.
• Using clean, stainless steel scissors cut small amounts of hair from the back of the head.
• Cut the hair as close to the scalp as possible. If the hair is less than 4cm in length, keep all of it for testing.
  

How much hair?

• The laboratory requires 0.5gm (500mg) or about one (heaped) tablespoon of hair for testing.
  

Can I send my hair if it is dyed?

• If hair is treated and coloured, wait six to eight weeks and take the sample from the freshly grown (i.e. untreated) hair.
• Any hair treatment or colour, natural or otherwise, can potentially lead to less accurate results for some elements tested.