Use in studies
TrichoScan in studies and research projects
The version intended for use in studies is TrichoScan Research. It enables the standardized capture and evaluation of hair parameters and is designed for scientific questions with reproducible measurement workflows.
The focus is on the quantitative documentation of changes over time. Depending on the study design, different hair parameters can be used as primary or secondary endpoints.
Typical endpoints and metrics
Which metric is suitable as an endpoint depends on the specific study question. In principle, different morphological and dynamic hair parameters can be evaluated, for example:
- cumulative thickness density
- anagen/telogen proportion or density
- mean or median hair thickness
- hair density
- follicular units
- brightness parameters for hair
- vellus/terminal hair proportion or density
- growth rate
- brightness compared with the skin
- other individually programmed parameters
Which of these parameters makes sense in an individual project depends on the objective, population, study duration and the practical conditions of data collection.
Reproducibility and SOP-oriented workflow
A standardized workflow is essential for meaningful study results. Particularly important are reproducible recordings of the same measurement region and clearly defined framework conditions for preparation, image capture and evaluation.
Measurements are most meaningful when they are collected at several time points under comparable conditions. That is why SOPs, training and consistent image quality play a central role in studies.
Validation
TrichoScan Research is available as a validated program version. In addition, a database solution can be used that was developed specifically for hair research and meets strict study requirements.
We do not offer special study support for the TrichoScan Professional versions. For scientific projects and formalized studies, it should therefore generally be checked whether TrichoScan Research is the right basis.
Planning study projects
Key points can be aligned already in an early concept phase, including the selection of suitable endpoints, requirements for the measurement workflow, hardware questions, training, evaluation, and possible support and database solutions.
The more clearly the scientific question and the intended measurement goal are defined, the better it can be assessed how TrichoScan can be integrated meaningfully into the study design.