Dear Doctor, 

During the last year, we have received many calls confusing us with other companies of similar names i.e. Trace Minerals Research (a Utah company, which manufactures mineral supplements) and Trace Elements International (a Texas Testing Laboratory).

We are constantly striving to upgrade laboratory analysis and standards, and like to inform you about our progress: 

Blind testing
At the request of our licensing agency CLIA, we have initiated blind testing experiments on known hair, blood, and urine samples with the College of American Pathologists and Doctors Data of Chicago, Ill. The results show a high degree of agreement, and were forwarded to CLIA. The results prove that our spectroanalytical tests, including hair analysis, show a high degree of repeatability. 

This high degree of repeatability depends on the following: 

htc hero battery Correct sample submission.
This places a strong responsibility on your clinical staff. Let us know if you need updated information on any type of sample taking.  Hair: DO NOT SEND chemically treated hair. Permed, colored or bleached hair does falsely elevate results and no laboratory can adjust for this. Pubic hair or nails are alternative specimen that provide reliable results. 
Whole Blood:  must be sent in heparin tubes to avoid coagulation 
Serum: must be separated correctly to avoid ‘contamination’ with red cells. 
Urine: analytical accuracy depends on accurate monitoring of urinary volume. A 10% recording error will cause a direct analytical error of 10%. Therefore, submission forms must accurately list sample volume per 24hr.  Since chelating agents such as EDTA, DMPS, DMSA or D-Penicillamine DO NOT increase the urinary elemental output within the first 12 hours after chelation, collection time becomes highly important as well. While there is a trend among some laboratories to make collection procedures easier for clinic personnel and patients, the consequences must be understood. 

Laboratory sample preparation.
Sound laboratory procedures determine analytical accuracy. We like to emphasize the following information. 

Hair: we evaluated the effects on sample washing. Our suspicions and past research were once again confirmed. While it is not necessary for the patient to wash or not wash hair before sample cutting and submission, the validity of the hair analysis result is dependent upon the laboratory having good and precise washing procedures. 
Table 1 shows the washing effects on sodium and potassium levels. It is clear that the test results of unwashed hair reflect external contaminants. 

Table 1:  Sodium and potassium data for unwashed human hair samples and human hair samples washed in a non-ionic surfactant as analyzed by ICP-AES. 

The amount and type of contaminants varies considerably. Therefore, the repeatability of any analysis performed on unwashed hair is poor. It is safe to say that washing procedures are an important factor in determining the accuracy of hair mineral analysis. It is equally safe to say that no clinical value can be based on the mineral analysis of unwashed hair. While Table 1 shows the washing effects of K and Na values of hair, other elements are equally affected. Equally important is the fact that repeated washing of hair does not affect the elemental content of the hair shaft. Hair is inert and elements incorporated INTO the hair shaft are not affected. 

Laboratory procedures regarding the use of standards.
We are using certified hair, blood and urine standards for all of our testing, thus assuring analytical accuracy. 
Correct use of laboratory equipment. 
During our internal research projects and blind testing programs with The College of American Pathologists and Doctors Data, we have found that result accuracy increases when proper use of instrumentation and sample preparation methods are combined. Presently, we use ICP  testing of macro elements to provide optimum repeatability; whereas Mass-Spec ICP is utilized for most trace element testing, including the analysis of rare earth elements such as uranium. We are employing both instruments and use them appropriately. 
If you or your staff needs more information on correct sample submission procedures, or updated information on laboratory and clinical analysis, our book MINERAL and TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSIS; Laboratory and Clinical Application, provides researched data and information. We make this book available to you for US$20 plus shipping costs (regular retail $40). 

Research in progress
We are evaluating the effect of hair conditioners and dandruff shampoos on hair mineral analysis results. At this time, we have learned that certain conditioners show high levels of trace elements, including lead. First test results of hair treated (and soaked) with such products do not indicate that these elements contained in conditioners are absorbed INTO the hair shaft. Again, proper laboratory washing procedures eliminate external contaminants. Thus, it is highly important that laboratories wash samples prior to the spectrometric analysis. 
 

Are you interested in supporting trace element research and cancer?
IATEC was founded at the 1st International Meeting in Beijing, China in 1996. Its Asian and Western members come from various health care professions and sciences dedicated to trace element and cancer research. The association’s main interest is to support research and to disseminate existing information. 
The 2nd International Conference of IATEC was held at the Hilton in Caracas, Venezuela. You can request the English/Spanish congress booklets from Biotecnoquimica, Caracas, Venezuela via fax 58-2-242 6726 or 
E-mail j0020324-1 or the US Headquarters. Or call/fax our US offices, listed above. Please enclose US$20 for copying and mailing. 

IATEC Member Meeting and Agenda
The Chinese government acknowledged and sanctioned IATEC as an officially recognized association and its connection to Beijing University. IATEC Members attending future Chinese meetings are eligible to receive university credits. 

IATEC members are eligible to become actively involved in sharing information on cancer therapies and treatments. Dr. Pazos of Venezuela offered internships in his clinic to members of IATEC and proposed that other members follow suit. Internships may consist of short, informative visits or extend into longer and active clinical involvement, during which the visiting intern would observe treatment methods, resulting in an exchange of ideas and cooperative efforts for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide. This proposal was accepted by all attending. Attending members offered to be part of such an "exchange program." President E. Blaurock-Busch offered information via e-mail on laboratory analysis and cancer treatment to IATEC members free of charge. 
The yearly IATEC membership is US$50. It can help solve the cancer puzzle. 
 

Pet hair mineral analysis

For many years Doctors, Chiropractors, Nurses and Nutritionists have known of the benefits of Hair Mineral Analysis (HMA) in Humans. More recently Veterinarians and Pet Health Practitioners have begun using HMA for more pets as the benefits of greater pet health has come to light. Hair mineral analysis is an effective tool for diagnosing problems in cats, dogs and horses. Birds can also have their mineral concentrations analyzed via feather mineral analysis. 

Case Study: a veterinarian sent four hair samples from a client with four dogs of the same breed. Three of the dogs were very ill and one had died after having violent convulsions. The symptoms suffered by the dogs included, skin problems, personality disorders and convulsions. Hair analysis showed toxic levels of heavy metals. The cause of the problems were discovered and the client was able to correct the situation. The health of the remaining three dogs improved. Prior to the analysis, it was assumed that all four dogs were suffering from the same ailment, however conventional treatment proved ineffective. Through mineral analysis of their coat (hair/fur), we were able to pin-point the cause of the problem and provide the physician with an appropriate and successful treatment approach. 

Most pet hair samples that have been submitted to us have come from animals with various skin disorders. Animal test results  showed obvious mineral imbalances. It is this mineral imbalance that causes allergy and nutritional problems to expose themselves in the form of itching, rashes, boils, and skin flaking. Various other aliments suffered by pets are also the result of mineral imbalances which can be identified and prevented through hair mineral analysis. 
 

 

(Table 1) Nutrient or essential elements for pets including major macro elements and minor trace element of known importance.	(Table 2) Elements considered toxic to animals when present in high concentrations.  Toxic concentrations vary depending on the element.
Major elements Trace Elements Calcium  Phosphorus  Potassium  Sodium  Magnesium  Zinc  Boron Manganese  Chromium Molybdenum Cobalt Selenium Copper Silicon  Germanium Strontium  Gold Vanadium Iron Lithium	Toxic Elements  Aluminum  Cadmium  Arsenic Mercury  Barium Nickel  Beryllium Lead

Analyzing pet hair is a simple task requiring only 500 mg. of hair from the underside of the animals neck. Only the two inches closest to the skin should be saved for analysis and all long ends should be discarded. This will ensure that only the most recent history of the animal will be looked at. TMI provides three hair analysis profiles for pet hair. A profile 1 includes all of the elements listed in tables 1 and 2. The Profile 2 analysis is much more comprehensive and includes 48 elements, 28 from the profile 1 and 20 of non-established essentiality or toxicity giving the client as much information on mineral concentration as possible. 
 

BLOOD MINERAL ANALYSIS
can be an excellent measure of patient response 

Circulating blood is a heterogeneous fluid consisting of a clear, slightly yellow liquid (plasma) and three suspended groups consisting of red blood cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes) and blood platelets (thrombocytes). 

The first systemic determinations of trace element concentrations in blood plasma and serum date back to the 1940s.  At that time, research mainly focused on zinc or copper, because available instrumentation provided sufficient sensitivity for the analyses of only these elements in the part-per-million range. The introduction of mass spectroscopy greatly contributed to the accuracy and precision of nearly all trace elements found in blood and other body fluids, providing a better understanding of the biological importance of these elements in health and disease. 

Biomedical research is currently undergoing rapid development, but the clinical significance of certain elemental concentrations is not sufficiently under-stood. The following information aims at providing clinicians with a better understanding of laboratory limitations and the importance of trace element concentration in blood. 

1. Analysis of Plasma and Serum:
Blood mineral analysis has been practiced for decades.  Most clinical data is based on serum or plasma analysis, and the elemental is a reflection of extracellular levels of minerals and trace elements.  In fact, the elemental makeup of serum is similar to that of plasma, making both of them equally valid for mineral analysis. 

Plasma: Plasma is primarily a transport medium that conveys nutrients to cells, removes metabolites, and carries hormones to specific sites.  Plasma is involved in the regulation of physiological processes, and its composition influences other organs.  Plasma is acquired after whole blood has been drawn into a vacutainer containing anticoagulants such as sodium or lithium heparin, potassium oxalate, sodium citrate or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).  When the anticoagulant-containing blood is centrifuged, the coagulated red blood cells settle to the bottom of the tube, leaving only the plasma on top as the supernatant fluid. 

Note: The use of lithium heparin as an anticoagulant will give artificially-high lithium levels, while sodium heparin will likewise give high sodium levels 

Serum: When no anticoagulant is added to blood, it forms a clot due to the polymerization of fibrinogen to fibrin, a process that normally requires 5 to 15 minutes.  After centrifugation, serum may be decanted or drawn off with a pipette. The serum should be removed within one hour. 

2.  Analysis of Red Blood Cells (RBC or Erythrocytes:
RBCs are acquired after whole blood has been drawn into a vacutainer containing an anticoagulant such as those mentioned earlier.  When the anticoagulant-containing blood is centrifuged, plasma and red blood cells are separated.  After the careful removal of plasma via pipette, the remaining RBCs must be packed tightly and washed with 0.9% sodium chloride solution to prevent hemolysis, making sodium measurement inaccurate in RBC analysis. 

Note: RBC analysis is a valuable measurement of the intracellular magnesium and potassium, with the latter being found predominantly in RBCs. Measurements are affected by hemolysis.  The concentration of manganese, iron and zinc is higher in intracellular packed cells than in extracellular cells, while copper and molybdenum are lower in RBCs and higher in extracellular serum or plasma.  Cell preparation is very important, because washing and separation of RBCs influences accuracy.  Since RBCs do not contain calcium, the presence of calcium in erythrocytes is a reflection of insufficient red blood cell separation from plasma. (Less packed the samples are more ‘diluted’ and thus provide falsely lowered values.) 

3. Analysis of Whole Blood (WB):
Whole blood concentrations reflect intra- and extracellular levels.  Specimens require less handling and are therefore not as easily contaminated as plasma, serum or RBC samples. 
Note: Depending on the anticoagulant used, certain elemental measurements are affected (i.e. lithium when using lithium heparin or sodium when using sodium heparin.) 
Blood mineral analysis (BMA) is recommended when acute and immediate toxic exposure or chronic malnutrition is suspected.  It is an excellent measure of a patient's response during acute illness or during chemotherapy.  Testing before and after treatment allows to optimally support the patient biochemically. 

Excerpt: 
Blaurock-Busch E., Minerals and Trace Elements, Laboratory and Clinical Application.  TMI 1996 
 
 

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