Frequently Asked Questions

The time will depend on the demand of the product, but the average duration is around three weeks before the customer receives the report.

Yes, as long as the present quantities lie within the limit of detection established by Hair Diagnostix. The limit of detection can be defined as the lowest concentration of the analyte that can be reliably detected. The company establishes these levels using high purity, certified standards spotted on clean control hairs, that do not contain the analysed compound.

Other compounds not mentioned previously may or may not be visible. Depending on the customers needs, Hair Diagnostix performs a check based on the chemical composition of the compound, to assess whether the compound is incorporated into the hair and if it is visible with our current technology.

This occurs via the bloodstream. The papilla (bottom of the hair’s root) is in direct contact with the bloodstream, permitting the incorporation of certain compounds that are also found in blood. Sweat is also a factor for the incorporation of these compounds into the hair.

Yes, it can, but the amount of the compound of interest might be different due to degradation as a result of the chemical treatment of the hair, resulting in a potential reduction of the signal given by the compound of interest.

No, although it is preferable to take the sample in the morning before washing the hair. Regardless, according to the standards established for hair analysis by the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT), the hair must be collected while it is dry.

Before analysis, all hairs are washed using a distinctive solution chosen specially by Hair Diagnostix for this purpose. This washing method ensures removal of external contamination while not interfering with the analysis itself.

The samples are collected by pulling out 9 hairs from the crown of the head (all hairs must have their root) and storing them safely into the pre-labelled transparent, ziploc bags included in the hair collection kit. Three hairs are used for the actual screen, the remaining hairs are archived appropriately in case re-analysis of the samples is needed.

No, those hairs are often damaged or without a root. It is important that the hairs are pulled-out from the head/scalp during their growth phase with a corresponding extraction date. Hair Diagnostix will not analyse hairs without root. For additional certainty, the remaining hairs not used for the analysis are stored, meaning that the client can request for the results to be verified for an additional cost.

he technology used for these analyses is mass spectrometry (MS), more specifically MALDI-TOF-MS and LA-ICP-MS.

It is an analytical method that separates compounds based on their mass / charge ratio. The sample is sprayed with a matrix that extracts and crystallizes the desired compounds as it dries.

A laser beam is focused on different spots on the surface of the matrix coated sample, and the ions generated are sent to the analyzer. In this case, the analyzer is a long vacuum tube in which the ions are separated, such that the ions of a lower molecular weight reach the detector first. A complete mass spectrum is generated for each spot where the laser is focused.

The images are made by choosing the peaks that correspond to the masses of compounds of interest or their fragments / metabolites in every pixel/analysis point. Advanced data analysis software generates an image of that peak and its intensity distribution on the entire sample surface.

It is a powerful analytical technology, which allows extremely sensitive elemental analysis to be performed directly on complex sample surfaces. It is applied to make element-specific isotope patterns visible, allowing direct analysis of biological samples, like hair, without further sample preparation.

LA-ICP-MS uses a focused laser beam, which is focussed at the surface of the sample to generate fine particles – a process known as laser ablation. The ablated particles are transported into an ICP (plasma) torch, where all molecules are broken down into their individual elemental building blocks. These atoms are ionized and introduced into a mass spectrometer detector for elemental isotope analysis. The technique is widely used for studying distributions of common metals, rare earth metals, lanthanides and organometallic compounds.

It has been analytically established that, on average, scalp hair grows 1 centimetre per month (as established by the SoHT, see question 6 for more information). The measurement accuracy of our laser-based analysis results in a timeline with an accuracy of one day based on that assumption. However, it is important to consider that other factors can influence hair growth as well as the incorporation of the compounds into the hair. Such influences are, for example, hair colour, ethnicity, cosmetic treatments, and external conditions.

Hair Diagnostix also ensures that the results are as accurate as possible by averaging thousands of single measurements into one value per day. This guarantees that hourly fluctuations will not affect the final analysis result.

In our laboratories, a Quality Control sample is measured every day to calibrate and demonstrate whether our instruments are performing according to the standards. In addition, a positive and a negative hair control sample is added to the screening. This limits the false positives results that could be obtained. Furthermore, in case additional confirmation is needed, a high-resolution imaging is performed, which permits to assess reliably the presence of the compound of interest. All our products are thoroughly researched and checked before they are launched to the market. These products are always signed-off by our experts before the screening is offered to the customers.

No, hairs are washed to remove external contamination that might lead to false results, control samples are also added for this purpose. Moreover, all hair samples are anonymised during analysis, to ensure impartiality and blind testing.

The Hair Diagnostix lab is based at Medace, which is a biomedical workspace with the ISO 13485:2016 certification. In our processes, we use the online platform eLabJournal, managed by Bio-ITech with ISO 27001:2017 certification for information security.

Hairs are transported through the post using My Parcel (an official partner of postNL) services. The hairs are placed inside a plastic, sealable bag and shipped in a carboard box. An instruction card is sent along with the hair collection kit. This process is completely pseudonymised since Hair Diagnostix uses randomised ID numbers for our clients.

The screening of the hairs costs 330 euros (including VAT) including transport costs within Europe. Orders from outside of Europe have additional transport costs.

The hair samples are stored for maximum 10 years (or until the consent is withdrawn by the customer). The virtual data (report) is kept for maximum 1 year for the customer. All this information is specified in the consent form that the customer receives when a hair kit is ordered.

Unfortunately, at this time it is not possible to cancel the orders.

The kit will be sent within 2 working days after the customer places the order. A track and trace code will also be sent to the customer as soon as the package is sent. Arrival liability will be covered by the post company.

All updates will be published on the website, but the customer can opt in for receiving product updates when a hair kit is ordered.

The results of the analysis are translated into a report, which includes a spectrum (for MALDI-TOF-MS analysis) and a graph, which represents the timeline of the observed compounds per day (for both MALDI and LA-ICP-MS). Download an example report.

No, the resulting reports will be sent exclusively in a digital form.

Hair Diagnostix cannot and will not provide any type of medical advice based on our screening results.

Only relative quantities can be determined. Meaning that we are able to see how much higher the intensity levels in the hair of a patient are when compared to an average population or how much they vary across an individuals hair. For absolute quantification, a study must be conducted relating the amounts found in hair and in blood.

Companies producing silicone breast implants have repeatedly used platinum as a catalyst used for the production of the silicone gel filling and the outer shell of the implants. Platinum is not the only toxic aggregate that is regularly present in these implants. Still, it is important to mention that many manufacturers do not fully publish the composition of their silicone breast implants.

All manufacturers must state in their Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data (SSED) the following paragraph:

“As a note, platinum is a metal used as a catalyst in the manufacture of the shell and gel components of silicone breast implants. The small amounts of platinum remaining in the product following manufacturing may enter the body, either by diffusing through the intact shell (i.e., through gel bleed) or through an implant rupture.”

 For more information see: FDA Backgrounder on Platinum in Silicone Breast Implants. (2018). U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/fda-backgrounder-platinum-silicone-breast-implants

If a silicone implant bursts or “sweats” (leakage/bleeding), the platinum contained in it is liberated into the tissue and ends up in the blood stream. This is transported through the whole body and incorporated into the growing hair through the hair follicles.

From the levels stated in the report, no medical advice can be derived as the amounts incorporated in the hair cannot (yet) be traced back to original amounts in the blood. It is known that higher platinum amounts can cause many adverse health effects. For more information please see: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/fda-backgrounder-platinum-silicone-breast-implants.

For this reason, an average (normal) value in the population has been established, using samples of women between the ages of 20 and 80, with no breast implants. This value is known to have no significant effect in human health. Here, the assumption is made that high amounts of platinum are present if the obtained values lie above 50% of the average population value.

Platinum can be found, in low amounts, in air, food and water. These levels are typically not significant enough to produce adverse health effects, but they are still present in the human body. For this reason, an average population value for platinum has been established at Hair Diagnostix.

For more information see: Platinum. (2000). WHO Regional Office for Europe. https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/123081/AQG2ndEd_6_11Platinum.PDF

No, other toxic substances are also expelled into the body upon burst of leakage of the breast implant. In this case, mostly silicone is incorporated into the body. For more information please see https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/fda-backgrounder-platinum-silicone-breast-implants.

Other toxic elements found in breast implants include arsenic, cadmium, barium, beryllium, lead, mercury, selenium, tin and vanadium.

Silicone is a highly abundant compound. It is used for a vast number of products. More specifically for this purpose, it can be found on cosmetic products that can influence the levels on the hair. It can also be found in the equipment used for the preparation of the hairs for analysis (such as tapes). For all these reasons, external contamination by silicone can easily occur. This is not the case for platinum since its presence in the everyday life is quite minimal when compared to silicone.