DETERMINATION OF ALUMINUM IN SERUM, DIALYSATE FLUID AND WATER BY INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA OPTICAL-EMISSION SPECTROMETRY

Methods for the determination of aluminium in serum, dialysate fluid a nd water by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry a re described and validated. Aluminium was measured at 167 nm using an argon purged monochromator. Matrix effects in serum and dialysate flui d were overcome by using an yttrium internal standard. Serum was found to have a complicated background in the region of 167 nm: careful sel ection of the wavelength used for background correction is therefore a pre-requisite for accurate analysis. The method for serum was validat ed by comparison with electrothermal atomization atomic spectrometry a nd the Limit of agreement determined to be +/- 0.3 mu mol/L. Routine p erformance in a quality assessment scheme has been highly satisfactory for a period of 1 year. The method is ideal for fast and accurate mon itoring of patients potentially at risk from aluminium toxicity.