Use of Virkon as a disinfectant for clinical samples carrying a high risk of infection in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The addition of 1% Virkon, a virucidal disinfectant, to clinical samples ca rrying a high risk of infection can reduce the likelihood of infection, par ticularly when samples are nebulised, as in ICP-MS. Semiquantitative analys is of Virkon by ICP-MS showed the major elements present in Virkon (Na, Ca, Mg, Al and Zr), which would preclude their determination in samples to whi ch Virkon had been added, and those elements present at intermediate levels (Br, B, Zn, Sc, Mo and Cr) where accurate determination by ICP-MS would be difficult. With suitable blank subtraction, it would be possible to add Vi rkon to high risk biological samples for the determination of many elements by ICP-MS and AAS.