Frequently Asked Questions

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a laboratory test that 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.

The laboratory report lists each element measured — for example calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc and copper, and toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and aluminum — with the laboratory's reference intervals. Samples are analyzed by Trace Elements, Inc. HTMA does not diagnose disease, deficiency or toxicity.

Blood tests and HTMA measure different things:

• Blood tests measure levels circulating in your blood at the time of the draw.
• HTMA measures elements in a hair sample. It does not establish whole-body mineral stores, early disease or poisoning, and does not replace medical assessment.

Hair testing does not replace appropriate medical assessment or conventional tests such as blood work. Interpret results in clinical context with a licensed healthcare professional.

The laboratory can measure elements in hair: Trace Elements, Inc. states that it uses ICP-Mass Spectrometry and follows CLIA guidelines, and describes its quality procedures on its website. Measurement quality is not the same as interpretation, though. Interpretation of hair mineral patterns is not established for all the uses it is promoted for, and laboratory measurement quality does not validate every interpretation.

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. See the ATSDR hair analysis panel summary.

People order HTMA to learn the element concentrations in their hair — for example out of interest in their nutrition, or to review the results with their own naturopath or functional-medicine provider.

HTMA does not diagnose or explain symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes, mood changes, hair loss or poor sleep. If you have symptoms, or suspect exposure to a toxic metal, see a licensed healthcare professional — hair testing does not replace appropriate medical assessment or conventional tests such as blood work.

HTMA Hair Test offers convenient at-home HTMA testing for customers in eligible US states (we do not currently accept orders from New York, New Jersey or Rhode Island). Simply order online at our pricing page and you'll receive detailed collection instructions and your printable HTMA submission form by email — no physical kit is mailed to you.

No doctor's referral or clinic visit is required. You'll collect your hair sample at home and mail it directly to the laboratory, Trace Elements, Inc., in the US, using your own envelopes and postage.

Samples are analyzed by Trace Elements, Inc. in Addison, Texas, a CLIA-certified laboratory (per the laboratory) using ICP-Mass Spectrometry. The laboratory publishes its quality-control procedures and lists CLIA license number 45-D0481787 on its website. CLIA certification concerns the laboratory's testing processes; it does not make us a clinic and does not validate every health interpretation.

Available in eligible US states — we do not currently accept orders from New York, New Jersey or Rhode Island. This is a current ordering restriction. No physical kit is mailed. Collection instructions and the submission form are emailed after checkout; you supply mailing materials and pay sample postage.

You collect your sample at home, then mail it to the laboratory, Trace Elements, Inc., in Addison, Texas. USPS First Class or Ground Advantage is usually the most affordable option. UPS/FedEx also work. No clinic visit needed.

Measurement quality depends on the laboratory performing the analysis. Questions worth asking any provider:

• Which laboratory analyzes the sample? Ours is Trace Elements, Inc. in Addison, Texas.
• What method and certification does the laboratory state? Trace Elements states that it uses ICP-Mass Spectrometry and follows CLIA guidelines; its website lists CLIA license 45-D0481787.
• Do you receive the laboratory's own report? Every package includes the Trace Elements laboratory report with the laboratory's reference intervals.

CLIA certification concerns the laboratory's testing processes — it does not make us a clinic — and laboratory measurement quality does not validate every interpretation of hair mineral patterns.

HTMA Hair Test offers three packages to fit different needs and budgets:

• Essential — $109 USD: The Trace Elements laboratory report, with graphs of measured elements and ratios and the laboratory's reference intervals. No practitioner review — perfect to review with your own naturopath or functional-medicine provider.
• Comprehensive — $179 USD: Everything in Essential plus our custom 10+ page educational Report of Findings and a diet handout, written by our FDN-P practitioner
• Premium — $289 USD: Everything in Comprehensive plus a custom 30–60 minute prerecorded video from our FDN-P practitioner going over your results, 30-day email support and 10% off a retest

All packages include emailed instructions and your printable HTMA submission form. No physical kit is shipped: you supply your own envelopes and pay the postage to mail your sample to the lab. Our Report of Findings and video are educational — not a diagnosis or treatment plan. No hidden fees.

Do not assume health insurance will reimburse an HTMA test. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are US tax-advantaged accounts; whether an HSA or FSA card is accepted at checkout depends on the card issuer and does not establish IRS or plan eligibility. Your plan may require a Letter of Medical Necessity, which we do not issue.

We provide itemized receipts documenting purchases. Insurance reimbursement and eligibility for health spending arrangements or medical tax credits are not guaranteed. Confirm the requirements for the specific service directly with your insurer, plan administrator or tax adviser before purchasing. The legal seller of your order is identified before payment and on your receipt. Our receipt is a purchase receipt from a testing storefront; it is not from a medical clinic or a licensed practitioner.

For more on health insurance, HSAs and FSAs, see our HTMA insurance & HSA coverage guide.

In the US, hair mineral analysis typically ranges from $100-$500+ depending on the provider and level of interpretation included. Basic lab-only results start around $100-150, while comprehensive packages with practitioner interpretation can cost $300-500 or more.

HTMA Hair Test offers competitive pricing starting at $109 USD — making professional-grade HTMA testing accessible in eligible US states. Instructions and your submission form are emailed after ordering.

You need about 1–1.5 inches of hair measured from the root, which comes to approximately 1–1.5 tablespoons of clippings in total. Take a little from 3–4 areas near the scalp — ideally the nape of your neck — cutting as close to the scalp as possible, and keep only the section closest to the scalp so you end up with small clippings rather than long strands.

If you have longer hair, you can cut from multiple small areas at the back of your head (nape of neck) so the collection isn't noticeable.

Cut from 3–4 areas near the scalp, ideally the nape of your neck (back of head, near the hairline), and keep only the section closest to the scalp — about 1–1.5 inches from the root. Cutting from the nape is also easy to conceal.

If you don't have enough hair at the nape, you can cut from other areas near the scalp. If head hair isn't available, contact us before you collect.

No. Hair from a brush cannot be used because:

• It may contain hair of varying ages
• The root end cannot be identified
• It may be contaminated with hair products
• It could contain hair from multiple people

Fresh-cut hair from the scalp is required for accurate results.

If hair is dyed/bleached, wait 6–8 weeks or at least 7 washes. Follow the collection instructions emailed after checkout and contact us before collecting if you have questions about other treatments.

Contact us at support@realhealthdiagnostics.com before you collect, and we will tell you whether an alternative can be used.

Please don't add notes to the submission form — complete only the sections highlighted in yellow, as your collection instructions explain.

Results are typically sent to us 10–14 days after the lab receives your sample, and we will contact you once they arrive. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed delivery date. Custom interpretation and video services follow the lab report.

What you receive depends on your package:

• All packages: The Trace Elements laboratory report. It lists each element measured — for example calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc and copper, and toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and aluminum — with the laboratory's reference intervals, plus graphs and calculated ratios
• Comprehensive & Premium: Our custom 10+ page educational Report of Findings and a diet handout, written by our FDN-P practitioner
• Premium only: A custom 30–60 minute prerecorded video from our FDN-P practitioner going over your results, 30-day email support and 10% off a retest. The video is recorded — it is not a live consultation

Our Report of Findings and video are educational wellness information — not a diagnosis, medical treatment plan or prescription. Our sample report page shows the laboratory's report format. Not every package includes everything shown in the laboratory's own examples — for example, the laboratory's interpretive narrative is a laboratory product, not our Report of Findings.

Your laboratory report shows each measured element against the laboratory's reference intervals. 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". Ratios are calculated from measured elements and are labeled by element (Ca/Mg — calcium to magnesium). They are not tests of thyroid, adrenal, hormone or blood-sugar function.

The Essential package is the laboratory report only, with no practitioner review — perfect to review with your own naturopath or functional-medicine provider. The Comprehensive and Premium packages add our educational Report of Findings, written by our FDN-P practitioner.

HTMA results are educational. Interpret them in clinical context with a licensed healthcare professional, and discuss any change to medications or supplements with them first.

Our free HTMA guides include a mineral quick reference for reading your levels and ratios.

Yes. We encourage you to share your results with your healthcare provider. Your report is delivered by email as a PDF that's easy to share. Some naturopathic doctors and functional-medicine practitioners use HTMA in their work; your provider may also recommend conventional tests such as blood work.

We offer three packages to suit different needs:

• Essential ($109): The Trace Elements laboratory report, with graphs of measured elements and ratios and the laboratory's reference intervals. No practitioner review — perfect to review with your own naturopath or functional-medicine provider.
• Comprehensive ($179): Everything in Essential plus our custom 10+ page educational Report of Findings and a diet handout, written by our FDN-P practitioner. Educational; not a diagnosis or treatment plan.
• Premium ($289): Everything in Comprehensive plus a custom 30–60 minute prerecorded video from our FDN-P practitioner going over your results, 30-day email support and 10% off a retest. The video is recorded — not a live consultation, and there is no appointment to schedule.

Yes, in some cases. In summary:

• Before your collection instructions are sent: an eligible voluntary cancellation is refunded less a 10% administration fee
• After your collection instructions are sent: there is no change-of-mind refund under our standard cancellation policy
• If we cannot supply your order (for example, a location we do not currently serve): a full refund with no fee

Your mandatory consumer rights always apply. See our complete Refund Policy for details.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. All payments are processed securely through our payment provider with industry-standard encryption.

Available in eligible US states — we do not currently accept orders from New York, New Jersey or Rhode Island. This is a current ordering restriction. No physical kit is mailed. Collection instructions and the submission form are emailed after checkout; you supply mailing materials and pay sample postage.

After ordering, your instructions and HTMA submission form are sent by email promptly — no waiting for mail. You then collect your sample at home and ship it to the laboratory in the US. USPS First Class or Ground Advantage is usually the most affordable option. UPS/FedEx also work. Delivery time depends on the service you choose; we strongly recommend tracking.

See our Shipping Info page for complete details, including the lab address and mailing guidance.

Place your hair in a small piece of clean printer paper and fold it, then put it into a plain paper envelope (not plastic). Write your full name, the date collected and "Hair sample" on that envelope. Place the hair envelope and your completed submission form into a larger mailing envelope and mail it to Trace Elements, Inc., 4501 Sunbelt Drive, Addison, TX 75001, USA.

This is a domestic shipment, so no customs paperwork is needed. USPS First Class or Ground Advantage is usually the most affordable option. UPS/FedEx also work. Return shipping is the customer's responsibility — we strongly recommend tracking.

HTMA is a laboratory test of the elements in a hair sample, but it is not a diagnostic test: it does not diagnose disease, deficiency or toxicity. Results are educational and can guide conversations with your healthcare provider. Hair testing does not replace appropriate medical assessment or conventional tests such as blood work.

We are not medical providers and cannot diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional for medical advice.

Independent functional health testing — not a medical clinic. Lab analysis by Trace Elements, Inc. FDN-P is a certification, not a medical license. Educational; not diagnosis or treatment.

Discuss supplements and medications with your healthcare provider, and do not stop, reduce or change them for this test without their guidance. Follow your collection instructions and record your current use on the intake form.

There is no fixed schedule. Because hair near the scalp roughly reflects the past few months of growth, some people retest after a few months to compare results; others retest less often. Discuss timing with your healthcare provider.