Hair Transplant Panel A Test
Short Name: Hair Transplant Panel A
Also known as: Pre Hair Transplant Panel, Hair Transplant Workup Test, Hair Loss Assessment Panel, Pre-operative Hair Transplant Panel A
Hair Transplant Panel A Test test available at DNA Labs India for ₹7,500. Uses Photo Optical Clot Detection, CLIA (Chemiluminescent Immunoassay), Spectrophotometry, Electrical Impedance, VCS (Volume, Conductivity, Scatter), Capillary Photometry / Westergren, Hexokinase, HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) on Serum, Plasma (Sodium Fluoride), Whole Blood (EDTA), Whole Blood (Sodium Citrate) samples. Results in Results are typically available within the same day to 48 hours from sample receipt at the laboratory.. Free home collection in 300+ cities across India.
🩺 Medically Reviewed By
Dr Pasupathy Arumugam
Consultant Pathologist · Reg: 21521
Last reviewed: September 7, 2026
Overview
The Hair Transplant Panel A Test serves as a mandatory pre-operative workup for patients scheduled for hair transplant surgery. It includes the following investigations: Complete Hemogram (CBC) to evaluate overall blood health; Fasting Glucose to screen for diabetes; HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin) to assess long-term blood sugar control; Prothrombin Time (PT) and INR to evaluate extrinsic coagulation pathway; Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) to evaluate intrinsic coagulation pathway; Basic Lipid Profile (Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, VLDL) to assess cardiovascular risk; Liver Function Tests (LFT) to evaluate liver health and drug metabolism capacity; Thyroid Profile Total (TSH, Total T3, Total T4) to rule out thyroid dysfunction as a cause of hair loss; Iron Studies Monitoring Panel (Serum Iron, TIBC, Ferritin, Transferrin Saturation) to detect iron deficiency; HIV 1 & 2 antibody screening; Anti-HCV (Hepatitis C antibody); and HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen) for infectious disease clearance. Note: COVID antibodies are not included in this panel.
- Test Code
- 691
- ICD Code
- L64.0
- Price
- ₹7,500
- Sample Type
- Serum, Plasma (Sodium Fluoride), Whole Blood (EDTA), Whole Blood (Sodium Citrate)
- Result Time
- Results are typically available within the same day to 48 hours from sample receipt at the laboratory.
- Fasting Required
- Yes (10 hours)
- Method
- Photo Optical Clot Detection, CLIA (Chemiluminescent Immunoassay), Spectrophotometry, Electrical Impedance, VCS (Volume, Conductivity, Scatter), Capillary Photometry / Westergren, Hexokinase, HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
Sample Collection
Overnight fasting for 10–12 hours is required. Sampling before 12 noon is preferred. Avoid iron supplements for a minimum of 24 hours prior to specimen collection. Duly filled Coagulation Requisition Form (Form 15) and Duly filled Consent form for HIV testing & Pre-test counselling (Form 10 & 10A) are mandatory. Inform your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements you are currently taking.
Method: Venipuncture – Multiple tube collection
Laboratory Analysis
Multiple tubes will be collected during a single venipuncture session: 6 mL serum from 3 SSTs (Serum Separator Tubes); 2 mL plasma from 1 Grey Top (Sodium Fluoride) tube; 4 mL whole blood in 1 Lavender Top (EDTA) tube; and 3 mL whole blood in 1 Blue Top (Sodium Citrate) tube. The Blue Top (Sodium Citrate) tube must be mixed thoroughly by gentle inversion immediately after collection.
Report Delivery
The Sodium Citrate (Blue Top) sample must be transported to the laboratory within 4 hours. If this is not possible, prepare Platelet Poor Plasma (PPP) within 1 hour of collection: centrifuge at 3600 rpm for 15 minutes, transfer supernatant to a clean plastic tube, centrifuge again at 3600 rpm for 15 minutes, then transfer the final supernatant (PPP) to a labelled clean plastic screw-capped vial and FREEZE IMMEDIATELY. Ship frozen. DO NOT THAW. Serum (SST) samples should be shipped refrigerated or frozen. Plasma (Grey Top) should be shipped refrigerated or frozen. Whole blood (Lavender Top/EDTA) should be shipped refrigerated – DO NOT FREEZE.
Timeline: Results are typically available within the same day to 48 hours from sample receipt at the laboratory.
Patient Instructions
About This Test
Who Should Get This Test
The Hair Transplant Panel A Test serves as a mandatory pre-operative workup for patients scheduled for hair transplant surgery. It includes the following investigations: Complete Hemogram (CBC) to evaluate overall blood health; Fasting Glucose to screen for diabetes; HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin) to assess long-term blood sugar control; Prothrombin Time (PT) and INR to evaluate extrinsic coagulation pathway; Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) to evaluate intrinsic coagulation pathway; Basic Lipid Profile (Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, VLDL) to assess cardiovascular risk; Liver Function Tests (LFT) to evaluate liver health and drug metabolism capacity; Thyroid Profile Total (TSH, Total T3, Total T4) to rule out thyroid dysfunction as a cause of hair loss; Iron Studies Monitoring Panel (Serum Iron, TIBC, Ferritin, Transferrin Saturation) to detect iron deficiency; HIV 1 & 2 antibody screening; Anti-HCV (Hepatitis C antibody); and HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen) for infectious disease clearance. Note: COVID antibodies are not included in this panel.
How to Prepare
- Overnight fasting for 10–12 hours is mandatory before sample collection
- Collect sample preferably before 12 noon
- Avoid iron supplements for at least 24 hours before specimen collection
- Carry duly filled Coagulation Requisition Form (Form 15)
- Carry duly filled Consent form for HIV testing & Pre-test counselling (Form 10 & 10A)
- 6 mL serum from 3 SSTs – Ship refrigerated or frozen
- 2 mL plasma from 1 Grey Top (Sodium Fluoride) – Ship refrigerated or frozen
- 4 mL whole blood in 1 Lavender Top (EDTA) – Ship refrigerated; DO NOT FREEZE
- 3 mL whole blood in 1 Blue Top (Sodium Citrate) – Mix thoroughly by inversion; transport within 4 hours
- If transport of Blue Top sample within 4 hours is not possible, prepare PPP within 1 hour and freeze immediately
- Inform the phlebotomist about any anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication use
Doctor's Notes
Reviewed by Dr Pasupathy Arumugam — MBBS, MD (Pathology) · Reg. No. 21521
"The Hair Transplant Panel A is a comprehensive pre-operative assessment designed to evaluate a patient's overall fitness for hair transplant surgery. It screens for metabolic disorders such as diabetes (HbA1c, glucose), liver and thyroid dysfunction, lipid abnormalities, iron deficiency, coagulation defects, and key infectious diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C). Identifying these conditions before surgery helps minimize perioperative complications, ensures safe anaesthesia administration, and supports optimal graft survival. Every patient considering a hair transplant should undergo this panel under the guidance of a qualified dermatologist or hair transplant surgeon."
Last medically reviewed: September 7, 2026
Test Parameters & Specifications
Sample Stability
- Hemolyzed or severely lipemic samples
- Clotted EDTA (Lavender Top) sample
- Insufficient sample volume in any of the required tubes
- Missing Coagulation Requisition Form (Form 15) or HIV Consent Form (Form 10 & 10A)
- Thawed PPP sample (previously frozen Sodium Citrate plasma)
- Samples received beyond stability limits
- Incorrectly labelled or unlabelled tubes
Understanding Your Results
Low haemoglobin, serum iron, ferritin, or elevated TIBC may indicate iron deficiency anaemia, which can contribute to hair loss and impair surgical healing. Iron supplementation and dietary correction may be recommended before surgery.
HbA1c ≥6.5% or fasting glucose >126 mg/dL suggests diabetes mellitus. Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of post-operative infection, poor wound healing, and graft failure. Glycaemic optimization is advised before proceeding with hair transplant surgery.
Prolonged PT or APTT indicates coagulation abnormalities which may increase bleeding risk during the hair transplant procedure. Further evaluation by a haematologist may be warranted. Anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication use should be reviewed.
Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides may indicate dyslipidaemia, which is associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk. While not a direct contraindication for hair transplant, lifestyle modification and medical management may be recommended.
Elevated bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, or ALP may indicate liver dysfunction, which can affect drug metabolism and post-operative medication tolerance. Hepatology referral may be needed before surgery.
Elevated TSH suggests hypothyroidism; low TSH suggests hyperthyroidism. Both conditions are known causes of hair loss. Thyroid dysfunction should be treated and stabilized before undergoing a hair transplant to ensure graft survival and reduce further hair loss.
Reactive results for any infectious disease marker require confirmatory testing. Patients with confirmed infections may still be eligible for hair transplant surgery under enhanced safety protocols, but this must be discussed with the treating surgeon and infectious disease specialist.
Consult your dermatologist or hair transplant surgeon if any parameter in your Hair Transplant Panel A Test results falls outside the reference range. Specifically, consult a doctor if you have elevated blood sugar or HbA1c, abnormal coagulation times, evidence of iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, abnormal liver function tests, or reactive infectious disease markers. These conditions may need to be addressed and optimized before proceeding with hair transplant surgery to ensure patient safety and optimal surgical outcomes.
Limitations
- ⚠This panel does not include COVID-19 antibody testing as specified
- ⚠HIV, HBsAg, and Anti-HCV are screening tests; reactive results require confirmatory testing
- ⚠Results should always be interpreted in the clinical context by a qualified physician
- ⚠The panel does not replace a comprehensive clinical dermatological evaluation or trichoscopy
- ⚠Iron studies may vary based on time of day, recent dietary intake, and inflammatory status
Risks & Considerations
- ●Minor bruising or soreness at the venipuncture site
- ●Rare risk of fainting during blood collection
- ●Very rare risk of infection at the needle site
- ●No significant risks associated with the panel itself – these are standard blood draws
Interfering Factors
- ●Iron supplements taken within 24 hours prior to sample collection may affect iron study parameters
- ●Hemolyzed or lipemic samples may interfere with spectrophotometric and coagulation-based assays
- ●Recent blood transfusion can alter haemogram and iron study results
- ●Medications such as anticoagulants, antibiotics, or hormonal therapy may affect coagulation and thyroid parameters
- ●Dehydration or acute illness may temporarily alter blood glucose and liver function values
- ●Non-fasting sample collection may lead to elevated triglycerides and glucose levels
Compare With Similar Tests
| Test | Hair Transplant Panel A Test | Hair Transplant Panel B Test | General Pre-Operative Panel | Complete Blood Count (CBC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison | Hair Transplant Panel A Test | Panel B may include additional advanced parameters such as DHT levels, free testosterone, or scalp biopsy markers. Panel A covers the essential pre-operative baseline workup. | A general pre-operative panel may include broader markers but may lack specific hair-transplant-relevant parameters like iron studies and thyroid profile that are included in this panel. | CBC is a component of this panel. The Hair Transplant Panel A includes CBC along with 10 additional test categories for comprehensive pre-operative assessment. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hair Transplant Panel A Test?
Who should take the Hair Transplant Panel A Test?
What does the Hair Transplant Panel A Test include?
Is fasting required for the Hair Transplant Panel A Test?
What is the cost of the Hair Transplant Panel A Test?
What sample types are required for this test?
How long does it take to get the results?
Is home sample collection available for this test?
Why are HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C tests included in this panel?
What should I do if my results are abnormal?
Are there any special forms I need to bring for this test?
Can I take this test if I am on medications?
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