How To Prepare And Cut The Hair

Instructions for Hair Sampling

Once you have received your testing kit from us, please familiarize yourself with these instructions to get the correct hair tissue sample. It is highly advised that you watch the video of the taking of a sample as well.

A hair tissue mineral analysis provides a unique perspective that allows us to see more clearly how stress and life style factors - exercise, diet, relationships, emotions, vitamins, minerals, herbs, drugs, and medications - affect our critical mineral balances. The balances between these essential nutrient minerals are more easily disrupted in the cells and tissues than they are in the blood.

Deficiencies and excesses of minerals are more readily observed in a hair tissue mineral analysis than in a blood analysis or urinalysis. Therefore, a hair analysis is often an earlier indicator of a trend towards health problems than is a blood analysis or urinalysis. This fact is very important, especially when considering a disease prevention or health maintenance nutritional supplement program.

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Sampling

Hair should be clean and dry when it is being sampled. The sample should be taken between four and twenty four hours after washing. If the hair is dyed or bleached ensure it has been washed at least 5 times prior to sampling. If dyed, it is best to take a sample just BEFORE you get it treated.

2. Sample Location

Head hair is to be taken from the nape of the neck only as shown in the illustration below. Please contact us if this is not possible.

3. Cutting a sample

Comb and lift a section of hair as illustrated.

Either pin or clip the section or have the person hold it up out of the way. Separate a smaller section as shown in the photo and video and cut the hair off as close to the scalp as possible with CLEAN scissors. Use only the 3cm of hair that was closest to the scalp and discard the rest of the hair if it is long.

Take several small samples from different spots and combine them. This will help assure an accurate sample and leave no noticeable "bald" places in the hair style.

4. Weighing the sample

Set up the provided card weight scale, following the instructions printed on it. Placing the small samples inside the circle on the card, continue sampling until the scale tips, indicating that there is approximately 125mgs in the total sample. Once the sample is taken put the hair into the provided sampling envelope.

5. Mailing the sample

From Australia Post an International Express Post envelope can be purchased to send the sample. This is highly recommended as ordinary mail significantly lengthens the time it takes to get the results back.

Mail the hair sample and the Analytical Research Labs Order form to:

Analytical Research Labs
2225 W. Alice Ave.
P.O. Box 37964
Phoenix, AZ 85069-7964
U.S.A.