The world we live in today is increasingly exposed to environmental toxins that can lead to adverse health effects. According to the CDC, the general population has exposure to toxic metals, with lead being the most commonly found. Ongoing exposure to these potentially toxic metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and essential minerals, such as zinc and copper, can affect human health and lead to various health conditions. 

The Hair Elements analysis is a noninvasive screening test that provides information on exposure to potentially toxic metals and the status of specific nutrient elements. Doctor's Data, a leading provider of hair element analysis, offers two types of profiles for hair element analysis, the Hair Elements profile and the Hair Toxic Element Exposure profile, which contains essential and toxic elements. 

Hair element analysis has become a reliable tool due to improvements in technology and scientific protocols and is gaining recognition as a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying physiological excess, deficiency, or maldistribution of over 30 elements, including crucial nutrient elements such as chromium, zinc, copper, magnesium, and selenium. These elements are necessary for normal vitamin function and act as cofactors for essential enzymes involved in biological processes. On the other hand, toxic elements such as lead, arsenic, and mercury can cause a wide range of health problems, including neurological disorders, developmental delays, and cancer. 

This article explores the Doctor's Data Hair Elements Test, what it measures, when to consider the test, and how this test is incorporated into a clinical setting. The aim of this article is to review the current literature on hair element analysis and its applications in clinical practice.

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What is The Hair Elements Test from Doctor's Data?

Hair Element Analysis is a screening test that provides essential information about the recent and ongoing exposure to potentially toxic metals, such as methylmercury and arsenic, as well as the time-averaged status of specific nutrient elements. Doctor's Data offers two types of profiles for Hair Element Analysis: the Hair Elements Profile, which contains essential and toxic elements, and the Hair Toxic Element Exposure Profile, which contains an expanded lineup of toxic metals.

Hair Element Analysis has become a valuable tool for physicians and their patients due to recent vast improvements in technology, instrumentation, and scientific protocols. The US Environmental Protection Agency has also stated that hair samples can provide reliable data when collected and analyzed properly. However, external elemental contamination from certain hair treatments must be ruled out to ensure accurate results.

Despite its usefulness, Hair Element Analysis should not be considered a standalone diagnostic test for essential element function. It should be used in conjunction with other laboratory tests and patient symptoms to provide a comprehensive diagnosis. Hair Element Analysis is an inexpensive screening test for physiological excess, deficiency, or maldistribution of elements.

What Does The Hair Elements Test Measure?

Doctor's Data, a company with a long history of expertise in essential and toxic elemental testing, has been validated by the European Commission Joint Research Centre as a supplier of trace element results for the certification of a hair reference material.

Hair, as an excretory tissue, provides significant insight into physiological disorders associated with aberrations in essential and toxic element metabolism when analyzed alongside other laboratory values and symptoms. Because hair grows approximately one to two centimeters per month, it contains a "temporal record" of element metabolism and exposure to toxic elements.

Hair Element Analysis is an inexpensive and valuable screening test for identifying physiological excess, deficiency, or maldistribution of over 30 elements, including crucial nutrient elements such as chromium, zinc, copper, magnesium, and selenium. These elements act as cofactors for essential enzymes involved in biological processes and are necessary for normal vitamin function. The levels of these elements in hair correspond with levels in tissues and organs.

Toxic elements, such as arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, antimony, and mercury, can be found in the hair at concentrations 200 to 300 times higher than in blood or urine. Hair is, therefore, an ideal tissue for detecting recent exposure to these elements. 

When to Consider The Hair Elements Test

The Hair Element Test is useful for individuals experiencing a range of conditions such as Alopecia, Depression, Toxic Element Exposure, Excessive Fish Consumption, Fatigue, Hypertension, Malabsorption, Parkinson's-like Symptoms, Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Vision Problems, Sexual Impotence, or Decreased Testosterone Production. However, it should not be solely relied upon as a diagnostic test and should be used alongside patient symptoms and other laboratory test results for accurate diagnosis.

It's important to note that hair is an excretory rather than a functional tissue, meaning that it contains a "temporal record" of element metabolism and exposure to toxic elements. As hair grows an average of one to two cm per month, it provides a temporal record of the patient's exposure to elements over time. Hair is also preferred for detecting recent exposure to toxic elements such as arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, antimony, and mercury. The CDC recognizes the value of hair mercury levels as a maternal and infant marker for exposure to neurotoxic methylmercury from fish. Overall, the Hair Element Test is an affordable and valuable screening tool that provides useful data for physicians and their patients.

How to Use The Hair Elements Test in Your Clinic

The use of a Hair Element Test in a medical office can be a useful screening tool that can provide information regarding exposure to toxic elements and the status of essential nutrient elements in the body. As such, it can be an important part of a comprehensive evaluation for patients who may be experiencing a range of symptoms or conditions that could be associated with imbalances or deficiencies in these elements, as previously described. A thorough medical history and evaluation should be conducted to determine if the test is appropriate for a particular patient.

Hair samples should be collected following standard protocols to ensure accuracy and reliability. The samples should be collected from the scalp, as close to the scalp as possible, and a minimum of 0.25 grams of hair should be collected. Hair samples should be collected from at least three different areas of the scalp to ensure a representative sample.

Hair samples should then be sent to the Doctor's Data laboratory for analysis following the shipping guidelines provided in the lab kit. Results should be interpreted in the context of the patient's symptoms and other laboratory results.

Patients should be informed of the results of the test and the implications for their health and well-being. Some treatment protocols may include exposure removal of the toxin, such as dental amalgams for mercury, fungicides for copper and arsenic, and certain dietary restrictions for lead, cadmium, or aluminum. In some cases, chelation therapy may be a consideration utilizing chelation agents such as DMSA, DMPS, or Ca-EDTA for the removal of the toxins/toxicants.

In the case that chelation therapy is recommended for the patient, environmental medicine specialists should be consulted. Other treatment recommendations should utilize a holistic lens to assess the underlying causes of the symptoms, such as fatigue, malabsorption, or hypertension, that are related to overexposure to toxins. The test is not intended to serve as a stand-alone diagnostic tool but rather as a supplement to other laboratory tests and patient symptoms. The physician should consider the whole patient when interpreting the results and developing a treatment plan. 

Patients should be retested with the Hair Elements Test after six months of treatment to assess the effectiveness of the treatment plan. The follow-up test results can help determine whether adjustments to the treatment plan are necessary. The physician should continue to monitor the patient's progress and symptoms and make any necessary changes to the treatment plan.

Summary

Hair Element Analysis is a cost-effective and useful screening test that can provide essential information about nutrient and toxic element metabolism and exposure. Doctor's Data, a reputable provider of Hair Element Analysis, offers a comprehensive test that can assist physicians with the early detection of physiological disorders. Hair Element Analysis offers two profiles containing essential and toxic elements as well as an expanded lineup of toxic metals. 

While it should not be considered a standalone diagnostic test, it can be used in conjunction with other laboratory tests and patient symptoms to provide a comprehensive diagnosis. This test can be a useful screening tool for patients who may be experiencing symptoms or conditions associated with imbalances in essential or toxic elements. By following established protocols and procedures, medical offices can ensure accurate and reliable results and provide appropriate patient follow-up and care.