Multielement analysis of biological samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. II. Rapid survey method for profiling trace elements in body fluids

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Clinical Chemistry (Winston-Salem, North Carolina); (USA)

OSTI ID:6004717

Vaughan, M A; Baines, A D; Templeton, D M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Toronto (Canada)

A rapid survey of the elements in biological materials, covering most of the elements in the periodic table, is possible by using available software for semi-quantitative analysis (SEMI-QUANT) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The procedure takes 5 min after sample preparation and gives results with a precision (CV) of approximately 20%. At a 10-fold dilution, 13 elements can be consistently and reliably detected in serum and 15 elements in whole-blood samples. At present the most important limitation of this method is mass overlap by polyatomic species for some elements of interest (e.g., Cr, Mn, and V). However, for the set of elements that can be reliably determined at endogenous concentrations, including Li, B, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr, the rapid scanning capability may be useful. Although matrix effects limit the direct interpretation of the semi-quantitative output, reasonable estimates of concentration are attainable by using matrix-matched standards or by adding a multielement standard to an aliquot from one sample in the set. We also present an example of determination of 25 elements in saliva from a patient with extensive dental work: Components of many of his dental alloys were readily identified. The method may also prove useful for screening multiple toxic exposures to heavier elements, such as Pb, Tl, Cd, and Hg.

• OSTI ID: 6004717
• Journal Information: Clinical Chemistry (Winston-Salem, North Carolina); (USA), Vol. 37:2; ISSN 0009-9147
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BODY FLUIDS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
BORON
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
COPPER
IRON
LEAD
LITHIUM
MAGNESIUM
MAN
MANGANESE
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MERCURY
RUBIDIUM
STRONTIUM
THALLIUM
TRACE AMOUNTS
VANADIUM
ZINC
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
PRIMATES
SEMIMETALS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology