“Can I just start iron now? My hair test says it’s low.”
I understand the urge. When you finally have a number in front of you, it feels like the answer is right there. But iron and copper are the two minerals I’m most careful with, and I won’t add either one based on a hair test by itself.
Here’s why, and how the Functional Lab Panel fills in what a hair test can’t.
A hair test raises the question
I love what a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) shows me. It’s a time-lapse of roughly the last three months, and it reveals patterns no single blood draw can: your metabolic type, your stress picture, and how your minerals relate to each other.
But for iron and copper, hair is a starting point, not a final answer:
- Iron in your tissues isn’t the same as iron you can use. A high hair reading can show up even in someone who has struggled with anemia.
- Low copper can mean two very different things. It might be a true shortage, or copper that’s present but not usable.
- Hair can pick up minerals from outside sources, such as well water, so certain readings need confirming.
If I guessed in either direction, I could easily make things harder instead of easier. (I go deeper on this pattern in Low Copper, High Iron, and a History of Anemia.)
Blood work answers it
That’s why the New Leaf Mineral Reset doesn’t stop at a hair test. Every package includes a Functional Lab Panel, a fasting blood draw that gives me the other half of the picture from the very beginning.
I don’t want you to wait until something looks off to get answers. Having both from the start means I can build your plan on confirmed information rather than assumptions.
What’s on the Functional Lab Panel
Here’s what the panel covers, in plain language:
- CBC with differential and platelets. A complete look at your red and white blood cells and platelets.
- CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel). A broad view that includes electrolytes, kidney and liver markers, and fasting glucose.
- Iron, TIBC, % saturation, and ferritin. How much iron is circulating, how well it’s being carried, and a window into stores.
- Copper and ceruloplasmin. Whether copper is present and whether your body can put it to work.
- Vitamin A (retinol). Vitamin A supports your body’s own copper handling, so it belongs right alongside copper.
- Vitamin D (25-OH). A key nutrient I like to know about for nearly everyone.
- Vitamin B12 and homocysteine. B12 status, plus a marker that can rise when B vitamins aren’t working as well as they should inside your cells.
- HbA1c, insulin, and leptin. A fuller picture of how your body handles fuel, beyond a single average.
- hs-CRP. A sensitive marker of inflammation throughout the body.
- Uric acid. Another useful metabolic marker to round out the picture.
You can also see the full list on the home page.
Functional ranges, not just “normal”
I read your results against functional ranges, meaning where your body tends to work best, not just where disease begins. A result can sit inside the lab’s normal range and still give me useful information. And when something looks good, I’ll tell you that plainly. Good news is part of the picture, too.
How the two tests work together
When your results come in, I start with your hair test to understand the big picture, then use your blood work to confirm, clarify, or redirect. For iron and copper specifically, the blood work is what allows me to decide whether anything should be added at all, and if so, what.
Very often, the answer isn’t “add more.” Sometimes it’s supporting the systems that help your body use what it already has.
A few practical notes
- The blood draw is a simple fasting appointment at a local Quest Diagnostics location. I’ll send you a lab order and easy instructions for timing and fasting.
- Please don’t start new minerals before your hair sample is collected. We want your baseline, not last week’s supplement.
- If you’re already taking iron or other medications from your doctor, please don’t change anything on your own. I’m glad to work alongside your medical care.
When an additional test makes sense
The Functional Lab Panel covers what I need for most people. Occasionally, after we talk or once I’ve reviewed your results, I may recommend an additional test. When that happens, I’ll explain why first, and it’s always an optional choice that’s yours to make.
Why this matters to me
Iron and copper are too important to guess at. Taking the time to confirm before adding anything is one of the ways I try to make sure your plan helps rather than adds another layer of stress to a body that’s already working hard.
If you’d like the full picture
The New Leaf Mineral Reset is $539 and includes your HTMA, the Functional Lab Panel, your written results and review, and six months of support. If you’d like to ask a question first, the good-fit check is a simple, no-pressure place to start.
Barbie Fisher · Certified HTMA Practitioner · New Leaf Health
coachbarbwithnewleafhealth@gmail.com
This article is intended to provide helpful, informative material. Barbie Fisher is a certified HTMA practitioner and health coach, not a medical doctor; this content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with questions regarding a medical condition, dietary changes, or health objectives. This article is educational and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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