It takes only one small pinprick of blood to tell a big story about the general state of your health, says Deborah Parker, a certified blood analyst.

For those unfamiliar with the term, blood analysis is a technology that has long been accepted in Europe and is now being widely used throughout the U.S. and western Canada.

Parker, as owner of bloodlink inc . in Oakville, is trying to introduce the technology to somewhat skeptical Ontarians who have historically shied away from holistic approaches to managing health.

Working from her small, high-tech office on Kerr Street, Parker knows the key to winning over the skeptics is education and word of mouth.

Deborah Parker and some of her sophisticated equipment used to analyze blood. She says many people would change their eating habits if they knew what blood type they were and how that affects their well-being.

Parker herself got into the field when she began exploring ways to improve her own health. During visits to her brother in Calgary, she decided to go to a clinic on his recommendation and have her blood analyzed. The results led to a change in diet and a daily regimen of nutritional supplements. Combined with a regular exercise program, Parker says she not only lost weight (two dress sizes) and maintained it, but has experienced increased energy, fewer colds and flu and a desire to eat less.

Delighted with her own results, Parker decided to take her science background (a B.Sc. in biology from Queen's and a diploma in Laboratory Science Technology from St Lawrence College) and train to become a certified blood analyst.

The process of blood analysis requires an expensive, high-tech microscope and camera specially made in Germany (the source of this science). Through this technology, clients can actually view their blood cells on a monitor as Parker analyzes what she is seeing.

By taking just one drop of blood from the finger, Parker can examine the activity of red and white blood cells while scanning for abnormalities and structure changes throughout the bloodstream. A process called ultra darkfield and layered analysis takes about one and a half hours at a cost of $95.

This process, says Parker, indicates where in your body you may have health issues to address, and what your physical strengths and weaknesses are. The two-fold analysis helps identify imbalances that could allow diseases to occur in time, but with modifications to nutrition and lifestyle, possibly involving nutritional supplements, can be reversed before problems can arise.

Parker says knowing your blood type is also crucial to the process. (Blood typing is offered for $25). She is a firm adherent to the studies of Dr. D'Adamo who wrote the book "Eating Right for Your Blood Type".

Parker says some foods actually act as poisons to certain blood types. Those with type A blood, for instance, should not eat meat.

"A large percentage of the people I see are type A's," she notes. "They usually complain of extreme fatigue, and it's often because they are meat-eaters like most of society, but they shouldn't be."

Parker says actually being able to see your own blood on a monitor acts like an educational "feedback mechanism", motivating clients to improve their health. She encourages her clients to return for follow-up analysis so that they can see the results for themselves.

Bloodlink inc. is located at 323 Kerr St., Suite 204. For further information call 842-0287.