[The reliability of conclusions based on hair mineral analysis in individual diagnostic]

The advantages of ubtaining samples for hair mineral analysis (HMA) as well as the possibility to measure former exposures and in addition to carry out segment analysis make it desirable to work with HMA in order to find a diagnosis. The laboratories which offer HMA differ distinctly in their procedure of analysis and quality control. HMA is generally not usable for individual diagnostic with two exceptions (arsenic and methylmercury) because of the large number of factors of individual and environmental influences and sources of error of the method of analysis. HMA can be used for cadmium, lead, and zinc in order to compare a single person with a larger population. Further research into the relationship of content of elements in hair and other tissues of the body is desirable.