Lab Kits include instructions for fasting and collecting samples of urine, saliva and stool. For fasting blood collection, refer to the web page titled, "Fasting Instructions."
HAIR SAMPLING IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Please Read And Follow All Of The Instructions On This Web Page At Least 24 HOURS BEFORE The Hair Sample Is Taken. Fasting Is Not Required.
WASHING HAIR
The sample should be taken between four and twenty hours AFTER washing. Hair should be dry when it is being sampled. Otherwise, it cannot be weighed correctly. This allows the hair to re-equilibriate after washing. Hair that has not been washed for four or five days is prone to environmental contamination.
Most shampoos, rinses, conditioners, tints, sprays and other hair products do not affect the test for three reasons. First, most of these products do not contain metals, which is what the hair test also measures.
Second, the hair is only 10-15% porous. This means that not very much is absorbed by the hair itself (the scalp is porous and can absorb many chemicals). Finally, most shampoos are only applied for 15-30 seconds, not long enough for much absorption to take place, but please AVOID the following shampoos:
Grecian Formula contains lead and could elevate this reading.
Head and Shoulders shampoo contains zinc and could elevate zinc readings.
Selsun Blue shampoo contains selenium and could elevate this reading.
If you have been using these shampoos, wash your hair daily for three days with another shampoo. Then, your hair sample can be taken on the fourth day.
Many shampoos contain synthetic vitamins and minerals, and color dyes. If you are interested in a healthy shampoo, Dr. Smith would be glad to recommended the two shampoos she uses for her own hair care and recommends to her clients.
NOTE:
Heavy sweating just before sampling can increase sodium and potassium readings.
Swimming in pools can increase copper and sodium readings.
HAIR TREATMENTS
Home or Professional Color Treatments "Home" dye/color products do not alter the test significantly. However, it is best to have washed the hair at least 6 to 8 times (after home or professional color treatment) before taking sample.
Permanent or Bleach Treatments After a beauty parlor permanent or bleach treatment, ideally it would be best to let the hair grow for 6 to 8 weeks.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING HAIR SAMPLE
Instructions for actually taking the hair sample are on the back of the "Order Form" in the Lab Test Kit, under the title, "Instructions for Hair Sampling."
The accuracy of a mineral analysis depends upon many factors. While the laboratory is responsible for the technical aspects of the test, the results will only be as good as the raw material or sample that is received. For this reason, the more care that is exercised by the person taking the hair sample, the better the results will be.
HEAD HAIR VS. PUBIC HAIR The best tissue for sampling is one that is clean, fast-growing and that grows evenly. Head hair fulfills these requirements better than any other type of hair. The normal values have been established based on head hair samples.
HOME SAMPLING In the event that head hair is not available, pubic hair or other body hair may be used. Our Hair Analysis Laboratory has performed comparison testing to determine the differences in the mineral readings between head and pubic hair samples.
The study found that:
The major ratios are the same in the pubic and head hair samples. However, all of the levels tend to be higher in pubic hair.
The difference may be due to the slower growth rate of pubic hair and that it is more protected from the elements than head hair. We ask that you do not mix sources, such as half head hair and half pubic hair. This will cause inaccurate readings. Once pubic or other hair is used as a sample, it is important that the hair is collected from the same area for accurate re-testing comparisons.
USING OTHER BODY HAIR Hair from a beard, other body hair or finger nails could be analyzed, but the laboratory has not performed extensive testing on these. CUT HAIR SAMPLE, DO NOT SHAVE HAIR FOR SAMPLE TAKING Hair shaved off by an electric shaver is definitely not acceptable. Particles of metal from the blades become mixed with the hair. QUANTITY Be sure to sample enough hair. As you cut small pieces of your hair, lay them on the scale in the circle with an X. When you have a sufficient amount of hair, the paper scale will tip to the other side. One of the most frequent problems occur when too little hair is sent (less than 500 mg). Either the client must be contacted to send more hair, or the sample must be diluted, which reduces the accuracy. Also, the laboratory normally keeps some hair to rerun any mineral that falls outside a reasonable range. If the sample is too small, extra hair cannot be saved.
SCISSORS Your scissors should be clean and sharp. Steel scissors are better than aluminum scissors. Cutting hair will dull scissors, which must be sharpened or replaced when this occurs. If plated scissors are used, be sure the plating is not peeling off, which could contaminate the sample.
SHORT HAIR Short hair can be a challenge. A thinning shears is often helpful. Thinning will allow a more even sampling without leaving any "holes" in your hair. Thinning shears are best when the hair is less than 1 1/2" long. One method is to make a cut with the thinning shears, then pull the scissors away from the head, holding them parallel to the head. The cut hair will come away in the scissors and can be scraped into the envelope.
RETEST SAMPLES When a re-test is necessary, the sample should be taken from the same area as the original sample, if at all possible. This assures continuity from sample to sample. However, it is not necessary to find the precise strands of hair for the next retest. Simply take the sample from the same general area. Also, head hair cannot be compared to pubic hair, so be sure that the second hair sample is from the same origin as the first sample.
ANIMAL HAIR SAMPLES Instructions for taking samples are the same, however, before sending in a sample for an animal to our Lab, please call Advanced Clinical Nutrition for specific instructions.
Reference: Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd.
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Copyright 2004 Dr. Donna F. Smith, Ph.D. A.C.N. Website Updated (06/18/09)