Multielement analysis of whole blood by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An analytical method using double focusing sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-SMS) for rapid simultaneous determination of 50 elements in digested human blood is described. Sample preparation consi sted of microwave digestion with nitric acid followed by dilution with ultr apure water. The importance of controlling possible contamination sources a t different sample preparation and analysis stages in order to achieve adeq uate method detection limits (MDL) is emphasised. Correction for matrix eff ects was made using scandium, indium and lutecium as internal standards. Ac curacy of the data for elements suffering from spectral interferences was i mproved by applying either a high resolution capability of the ICP-SMS or m athematical corrections. Different approaches for accuracy assessment in bl ood analysis are evaluated. Additional information on trace elements concen tration in selected blood reference materials is given. The between-batch p recision was assessed from replicate analysis (including sample preparation ) of reference materials and was better than 10% RSD for 21 elements and be tter than 30% RSD for 36 elements under consideration. A statistical summar y for results obtained for 31 blood samples from non-exposed subjects is pr esented. The majority of elements tested was found in the samples at concen trations higher than MDL.