Hair tissue mineral analysis — HTMA — is easy to order on the internet and surprisingly hard to get value from that way, because the test is only as useful as the reading it gets. At our Kennewick center, lab testing comes with the part the mail-order version leaves out: a person across the table who has read thousands of these charts.
What the Test Is
HTMA is a laboratory screening of the mineral content of a small hair sample — roughly the last two to three months of tissue chemistry. It reports nutrient minerals, toxic elements, and the ratios between them, which is where most of the meaning lives. It is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test: it does not diagnose any condition, and anyone who tells you otherwise is overselling it. What it does well is show patterns and, across repeat tests, direction.
How It Works at the Center
The sample takes minutes: a small amount of clean, dry hair cut close to the scalp — we can take it at the center, or walk you through collecting it at home. It goes to the laboratory, and results typically return within a few weeks. Then comes the part that matters: a review session where the chart is walked through line by line — what the ratios suggest in trend language, how the findings fit what you actually experience, and what nutritional support fits the pattern. You leave understanding your own chart, not holding a PDF you cannot read.
Why Retesting Is Part of the Plan
A single chart is a snapshot; the story is in the direction. Retesting on a sensible cadence — typically every few months — shows whether the pattern is moving the right way and lets the plan adjust. This is also why we keep testing local and relational: the person reviewing your third chart has seen your first two.
Getting Started
Lab testing can stand alone or pair with the center’s other services — many members combine a testing cadence with their 24/7 training access. Details are on the lab testing page, and current membership options are under memberships.
Visit us: 214 E. Albany Avenue, Building E101, Kennewick, WA 99336 · call or text 509-670-9713 · visits are by appointment, with 24/7 door-code access after training. A single row of parking sits directly in front of the building — come in through the green entry door just left of the white roll-up door.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Services at Spinal Fitness Health and Wellness Center are wellness services, not medical care.
