Oligoscan
Oligoscan: What it is, how it works & what it brings into the clinical picture
The Missing Layer in Health Testing
Most testing looks at what’s in the blood, or what the body is excreting in urine or depositing in hair.
Since symptoms start at the cellular level, where nutrients are used and toxins accumulate, cellular assessments of minerals would be very valuable. This is where Oligoscan gives some insight.
What Is Oligoscan?
Oligoscan is a non-invasive, real-time spectrophotometry test that measures:
21 essential minerals
16 heavy/toxic metals
Key vitamins (A, B6, B9, B12, C, D, E)
Using a quick scan of the palm of the hand, it provides a snapshot of:
Tissue-level mineral status
Intracellular bioavailability
Accumulated toxic burden
It’s fast, painless, and the results are immediate. Importantly, it is part of a nutritional assessment, not a diagnostic test for deficiency or toxicity.
How Oligoscan works
OligoScan uses spectrophotometry, measuring how light is absorbed and reflected by tissues. Each mineral and metal has a unique spectral signature.
When light passes into the skin, some wavelengths are absorbed while others are reflected. By analysing this interaction, the device is able to calculate the levels of minerals and metals within the tissue.
The measurement occurs in living tissue (dermis), approximately 4mm deep.
Why This Matters
Different tests tell different stories:
Blood → what is circulating now
Urine → what is being excreted now
Hair → what is deposited over time
Oligoscan looks at what has accumulated within the tissue, as well as what is functionally available at a cellular level.
Because ultimately: Blood is the transport system, not the final destination
How Oligoscan is used at Mito Core
1. To indicate the cellular environment
Every cell depends on minerals for:
Energy production
Enzyme activity
Nervous system signalling
Hormonal communication
Even subtle imbalances can impact how the body functions. Oligoscan patterns offer a snapshot of that internal terrain.
2. To reveal potential cellular disruption from heavy metals
Heavy metals don’t sit harmlessly in the body if the load is too high. They may interfere with nutrient function through:
Ionic mimicry (binding competition)
Enzyme disruption
Oxidative stress
This means nutrients may be present, but not working properly.
For example:
Lead can replace calcium in tissues
Mercury binds tightly to selenium, impairing antioxidant systems
Cadmium competes with zinc
Over time, this creates a picture of:
Functional (not true) deficiency
Impaired detoxification
Reduced cellular efficiency
3. To highlight patterns, not report on numbers
Minerals don’t act in isolation. They work in systems, ratios, and relationships.
This is where Oligoscan becomes clinically interesting and a nuanced tool.
Key Ratios We Pay Attention To
Sodium : Potassium
Cellular energy and membrane potential
Linked to the sodium–potassium pump
Calcium : Magnesium
Nervous system balance
Muscle tension vs relaxation
Sleep and stress response
Zinc : Copper
Immune function
Mood and neurotransmitters
Hormonal balance
Common findings
One of the most common patterns we see is global mineral depletion. This has become increasingly prevalent and is often driven by a combination of reduced nutrient density in modern food, chronic stress, digestive dysfunction, and a reliance on heavily processed foods. Over time, this creates a body that simply doesn’t have the raw materials it needs to function efficiently.
Another pattern we frequently observe is a combination of high toxic metal load alongside low mineral status. In this scenario, the body is not only accumulating toxins from the environment but also lacks the key nutrients required to process and eliminate them effectively. This can create a cycle where detoxification becomes increasingly inefficient, placing further strain on the system.
Important Context
Oligoscan is not a medical device for diagnstics and should not be used in isolation. It is not an ARTG listed device. It is a functional global assessment and its value lies in how it is interpreted alongside the broader clinical picture. This includes a person’s health history, current symptoms, and, where appropriate, other forms of testing. As outlined in the guide, it is not intended to diagnose or treat disease.
The Mito Core Perspective
We look at the cellular environment, the inputs coming into the body such as nutrients and toxins, and the body’s ability to adapt and detoxify. When these areas are supported, mineral balance improves, cellular signalling becomes more efficient, and detox capacity is enhanced.
You don’t just manage symptoms. You change how the body functions.