The truth about allergy testingHair analysis

We contacted two companies, Bionetics and Integral Health, which use hair to diagnose intolerances. Bionetics uses a scanner to diagnose intolerances, claiming it tests ‘the vibrational energy pattern of your hair which represents the energy state of your body’ to diagnose intolerances. 

Using hair analysis to diagnose food allergies has never been proven

Integral Health claims to ‘genetically examine the DNA at the hair root’ to investigate food intolerances. The hair analysis tests cost between £48 and £75, depending on the company. 

What we did 

Each researcher sent a few strands of hair to each hair analysis company. A few days later, Becky sent another sample to Bionetics under a different name and Dee did the same for Integral Health. 

Our findings 

The companies post a report with intolerances, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Integral Health successfully diagnosed Becky’s lactose intolerance and she was told to avoid all dairy products. 

But Bionetics told her to avoid only sheep’s milk and no other dairy products on her first test, and on her second test only cows’ milk and no other dairy products.

Becky’s test results from both companies were very different.

Of 37 foods identified, only two appeared on both lists. The two tests sent to Bionetics also gave very different results, with only one of 31 foods appearing on both lists. Dee was told to avoid cows’ milk by all tests, even though she has no lactose or cows’ milk protein intolerance and has never shown any symptoms.

Experts’ verdict

‘Despite exhaustive research, using hair analysis to diagnose food allergies has never been proven,’ Dr Morris said. Integral Health claims that no two people are the same and that their test results are  98% accurate. ‘But Becky and Dee both received standardised reports advising them to avoid similar foods,’ said Andrew Williams.