Who Can Order a Test for a Child?
Our services are sold to adults. A parent or legal guardian may order a test for their child; the parent or guardian is responsible for the information provided and receives the results.
Our interpretation is educational and does not include pediatric supplementation guidance. Supplement selection and dosing for anyone under 18 require an appropriately licensed healthcare professional with pediatric expertise.
What Collection Involves
Collecting the sample means cutting a small amount of hair close to the scalp with clean scissors — there are no needles. Take care with scissors near the scalp, and choose a time when your child is relaxed and sitting still.
What HTMA Can and Cannot Tell You About a Child
HTMA measures the concentration of selected elements in the hair specimen you submit, reported against the laboratory's reference intervals. Hair reflects elements incorporated into hair as it grew (scalp-near hair roughly covers the past few months of growth) and can be affected by external contamination, hair treatments and collection conditions.
A result outside the reference interval is not a diagnosis of deficiency or toxicity, and a result inside it does not mean a level is "safe". Children's nutritional needs change with age, so any result needs to be read in the context of the child's age, diet, growth and health by a licensed healthcare professional.
HTMA does not diagnose, or identify the cause of, ADHD, autism, behaviour problems, learning difficulties, developmental delays, sleep problems or frequent illness. If you have concerns about any of these, talk to your child's doctor or another licensed healthcare professional with pediatric expertise.
In 2001 the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) convened an expert panel that discussed limitations of hair analysis, including external contamination, variable laboratory methods and limited ability to relate hair levels to health effects (ATSDR hair analysis panel). It is a 2001 discussion summary, not a current rule.
Lead and Other Toxic Metals
Children absorb more of some metals, such as lead, than adults do, and their developing brains and bodies are more sensitive to them. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children's lead exposure is checked with a blood lead test arranged through their doctor (CDC); HTMA isn't a substitute.
If you are worried about exposure — for example from old paint, older plumbing or some imported products — contact your child's doctor or your local public health office.
How to Collect a Hair Sample from a Child
Collection for a child follows the same emailed instructions as for an adult. Follow them exactly, including the washing, packaging and submission form steps. The amount of hair needed is:
- About 1–1.5 inches from the root
- Approximately 1–1.5 tablespoons total
- Cut from 3–4 areas near the scalp (ideally nape of neck)
- Keep only the section closest to the scalp
Hair should be small clippings, not long strands. If your child's hair is very short or fine and you're unsure whether you can collect enough, email support@realhealthdiagnostics.com before you order.
Understanding Your Child's Results
The laboratory report shows each measured element against the laboratory's reference intervals. The Essential hair mineral analysis includes the laboratory report only, to share with your child's doctor or naturopath. Comprehensive adds our educational Report of Findings, and the Premium HTMA package adds a prerecorded video going over the results; both are prepared by our FDN-P practitioner. FDN-P is a certification, not a licence to practise medicine, and our interpretation is not a diagnosis, medical treatment plan or prescription. As noted above, it does not include pediatric supplementation guidance.
What to Do with Your Child's Results
- Don't panic, and don't act on a single value: a hair result is not a diagnosis
- Share the full report with your child's doctor or another licensed healthcare professional with pediatric expertise
- For a toxic metal above the laboratory's reference interval: ask your child's doctor whether a blood test is appropriate, and think about possible exposure sources
- Don't give a child supplements because of a hair result or based on adult guidance; supplement selection and dosing for anyone under 18 require an appropriately licensed healthcare professional with pediatric expertise
- Retesting: hair grows slowly; ask your child's healthcare professional whether a retest would be useful
Questions Before You Order?
If you're considering a test for your child, read what each package includes, and email us with any questions before you order.
View PackagesTesting More Than One Family Member
Some families test more than one person. If you have questions about ordering for several family members, contact us before you order.
Considering HTMA for Your Child?
Read what HTMA can and can't show, compare packages, and talk to your child's healthcare professional about any health concerns.