2026-06-10
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by dog, cat, and horse owners interested in HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis).
As interest in animal nutrition and the impact of environmental factors on health continues to grow, more pet owners are seeking methods that can provide a deeper understanding of their animals’ mineral status. One such method is elemental hair analysis.
In this article, we explain what determines the reliability of HTMA testing, what information it can provide, and how to interpret the results within the appropriate context.
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) is a laboratory method used to assess the mineral composition of an animal’s hair.
The test allows for the evaluation of:
✓ selected macroelement levels
✓ selected trace element levels
✓ ratios between individual elements
✓ the presence of selected potentially toxic elements
As with any laboratory testing method, the reliability of the results depends on several factors.
Sample Quality
Proper hair collection is crucial for obtaining reliable results. The sample should:
✓ be collected from the appropriate areas of the animal’s body
✓ be collected according to the laboratory’s instructions
✓ be free from external contamination
Laboratory Method
Modern laboratories use advanced analytical techniques for elemental testing, such as:
ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry).
This method allows the simultaneous measurement of multiple elements and is widely used in the analysis of biological, environmental, and industrial samples.
Experience of the Team Interpreting the Results
Numerical values alone do not always provide a complete picture. Proper interpretation of HTMA results requires consideration of:
✓ the animal’s diet
✓ supplementation practices
✓ age
✓ species
✓ environmental conditions
Yes. The elemental analysis of hair, fur, and other biological materials has been used for many years in scientific research related to:
✓ biology
✓ nutrition
✓ environmental sciences
✓ toxicology
✓ elemental monitoring
It is important to remember that elemental analysis is a tool used to assess the mineral composition of a sample and provides information about the material being examined.
Hair is a biological material that can accumulate elements during its growth. As a result, hair analysis may provide information about:
✓ long-term environmental exposure
✓ the mineral composition of the sample
✓ changes associated with dietary patterns
This is one of the key differences between hair analysis and tests performed on body fluids.
→ Dog hair analysis – what is it and does HTMA make sense?→ Cat Hair Analysis – What Does an HTMA Test Show?→ Horse Hair Analysis – What Does HTMA Testing Show and When Is It Worth Performing?
This question often arises in discussions about HTMA. In practice, hair analysis and blood tests provide different types of information.
Hair Analysis – May reflect the elemental composition of the body over a longer period of time.
Blood Testing – Provides a snapshot of current values at the time the sample is collected.
For this reason, these methods are not directly comparable and should not be considered substitutes for one another. Each serves a different informational purpose.
The greatest value of HTMA lies in interpreting the results within the appropriate context. Important factors include:
✓ dietary practices
✓ supplements being used
✓ the animal’s activity level
✓ living environment
✓ species and age
For this reason, an HTMA report should be evaluated as a whole rather than based solely on individual values.
HTMA may provide information about:
✓ levels of selected minerals
✓ relationships between elements
✓ the presence of selected heavy metals
✓ the influence of environmental factors on the elemental composition of hair
✓ monitoring changes associated with nutrition
Yes. Elemental hair analysis is a recognized laboratory method for assessing the elemental composition of biological material. However, its value depends on:
✓ sample quality
✓ the analytical method used
✓ proper interpretation of the results
✓ consideration of nutritional and environmental factors
The most meaningful conclusions can be drawn when HTMA is used as part of a broader assessment of an animal’s nutrition and living environment.
Scientific publications and studies
Technical materials and specialist publications
