Hi guys, Ive been reading this forum for a while now, and also researching data on the net etc, but i have been unable to find any sort of test that can establish one way or another, the level of mercury in my system.

I had a hair mineral test done a while back (bionetics), and the only thing that suggested was that there were some 'free radicals' in my system and that i should increase selenium intake.

I then took the MELISA test, with the help of biolab in London, and that came back negative for hypersensitivity.

Challenge tests etc dont seem popular anymore, I believe biolab withdrew theirs from the tests they conduct.

I really wanted a test to show the level of mercury in my system so that i could have the amalgam removal decision almost taken out of my hands. It would feel like an easier choice to make and justify to family etc.

There is no test to show the mercury levels in the organs other than biopsies. No one would want a biopsy of the brain or other major organs like the liver of kidneys unless it was absolutely necessary. Mercury toxicity is best diagnosed by symptoms, and reaction to chelating agents such as DMSA or ALA when used properly doing the Cutler protocol. Chalenge tests might make some people very sick. They also don't show how much mercury is in the body, just how much is excreted.

after doing LOADS of research, different labs are better than others and use different procedures to conduct a test. hair analysis tests can be a very accurate way to determine the amount of heavy metals in tissues. but you need to use the right lab. below i have posted some brief articles with information that could help you find what you are looking for. my mother, three friends, and myself have used these tests and they read us like a book. we all felt just like the tests shown and i was able to find out i had severe copper toxicity through the lab although it is hidden.

this lab pioneered hair analysis and because of their extensive knowledge and experience, they are able to identify what's going on. the tests are cheap in my mind as well. since it was so interesting and i believed it to be a great way to test someones health and chemistry, i took three college level courses so that i could get an account with the lab. this way i can get tests cheaper and even help others if i wanted to. i need to get better first before i do that.

Difference betweent Analytical Research Labs and others below:
http://arltma.com/HairAnalysis.htm
http://arltma.com/FAQ.htm

Explanation about Mercury Toxicity identification through the lab:
http://arltma.com/MercuryToxNews.htm
http://arltma.com/MercuryToxDoc.htm

How metals can be hidden at first on tests:
http://arltma.com/HiddenToxMetalsNews.htm

"after doing LOADS of research, different labs are better than others and use different procedures to conduct a test. hair analysis tests can be a very accurate way to determine the amount of heavy metals in tissues. "

I don't see how. Hair analysis might show how much mercury is excreted through the hair, but not how much is excreted in other ways. It will never show how much is mercury present in the body. The percentage present that is excreted through the hair can vary tremendously. The results of hair analyses might even vary quite a bit depending on how often hair is washed and what shampoo, conditioner, and other chemicals are used on the hair.

Thanks Shawn that seems to be quite useful, i wonder if anybody knows a lab in the UK that is of similar quality to the one you have posted.

Here is some information about hair testing mercury

http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/HOW_TO_hair_test.html

Its not very clear on that page, but basically, if there are so many minerals out of the normal range, there is a high probability of mercury poisoning, since mercury is the most common poison known to derange the bodies mineral transport system.

There is a group on yahoo, frequent dose chelation, that will help you interpret hair tests for free if you post them. The most common lab used is doctors data.

My hair test and another person I know both clearly showed the patterns associated with mercury toxicity, though I already knew mercury was the problem in both of those cases, mine also showed very high levels of lead, cadmium, and uranium as well. Most often, the only time hair tests will show high hair mercury is when you have been exposed to methyl mercury (ie: fish). My mercury level on my hair test was as low as could be, though I am clearly mercury poisoned based on symptoms and reactions to ALA.

My mercury level was almost nil too, but I was depleted in most minerals despite regular supplementation for a few years. They kept telling me on FDC that an absence of mercury in a hair test can actually indicate someone who is a poor excreter, but this is obviously frustrating too because if you look at it that way, you either are toxic because you are excreting lots of mercury, or you're toxic because you aren't