DETERMINATION OF COPPER IN BLOOD-SERUM OR PLASMA BY GRAPHITE-FURNACE AAS

This method was developed for the determination of copper in serum or plasma samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman back-ground correction. The sample was diluted in a matrix mod ifier containing magnesium nitrate and ammonium phosphate. The diluted sample was automatically injected into a pyrolytically coated graphit e tube with a platform. Calibration was performed using an aqueous cal ibration curve. The method provides a detection limit of 60 mu g/L, a characteristic mass of 7 pg, reproducibilities ranging from 2.6 to 4.6 %, and a percentage recovery from 96 to 104%. The simplicity of the me thod assures precise results which can be obtained in a very short tim e.