Test Overview of Hair Metal Panel

Hair analysis is a relatively inexpensive screening tool for toxic metal exposure as well as nutritional mineral status. It reflects the average levels of metals circulating in the blood over the period of time required for growth of the hair sample used.

Test Indications of Hair Metal Panel

  • First-line test for evaluating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger's Syndrome, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD), and learning disability.
  • First-line test for evaluating depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
  • First-line test for evaluating autoimmune disorders, joint pain, and psoriasis.
  • First-line test for evaluating Alzheimer's disease.
  • First-line test for evaluating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
  • Environmental toxicity.
  • Seizure disorders.
  • Hypertension.
  • Possibly useful in evaluating poor or excessive appetite, recurrent otitis media, herpes, and dry skin.

Sample Collection for Hair Metal Panel

  1. Your doctor will provide you with the sample collection kit.
  2. Hair dyes, hair perms, and other treatments may contain toxic metals that affect results; if you use these products, pubic or armpit hair may be used.
  3. Detailed instructions are in the sample collection kit.

Your doctor or lab may have different instructions that supersede the above.

Labs Performing Hair Metal Panel Test

Name of LabLab CodeEstimated CostProcessing TimeComments
Go to Great PlainsGreat Plains  $135 Cash discount and some insurance

Costs cited are subject to change and may be reduced by insurance or cash discounts and increased by sample collection fees.

Theory of Hair Metal Panel

Toxic Metals

  • Aluminum
  • Antimony
  • Arsenic
  • Beryllium
  • Bismuth
  • Cadmium
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Nickel
  • Platinum
  • Silver
  • Thallium
  • Thorium
  • Tin
  • Titanium
  • Uranium

Nutritional Metals

  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Copper
  • Zinc
  • Manganese
  • Chromium
  • Vanadium
  • Molybdenum
  • Boron
  • Iodine
  • Lithium
  • Phosphorous
  • Sulfur
  • Cobalt
  • Iron

References regarding Hair Metal Panel

  •       [GP2008]   Great Plains Laboratory, William Shaw, Lori Knowles, Kurt Woeller. Physician Practitioner Training (Autism) Lecture Notes and Documentation. Tempe, AZ (8/23/2008 – 8/24/2008). Full text: https://www.greatplainslaboratory.comFULL TEXT

    • Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:

    [FMU] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.

    [SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.

    [UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry, Microbiology, and Biochemistry.