The potential of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) forthe simultaneous determination of trace elements in whale blood, plasma and serum

The advantages accruing to biochemical and clinical investigations from a m ethod that allows the simultaneous quantification (RSD less than or equal t o 10%) of many elements in blood, plasma, and serum at concentrations equal to one-hundredth of the lower limits of the normal ranges are undeniable. The suitability of inductively coupled argon plasma low-resolution quadrupo le mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), a simultaneous method with low detection lim its, is evaluated for the quantification of inorganic constituents in whole blood, plasma, and serum with consideration of the dilution associated wit h the mineralization of the samples, of isobaric and polyatomic interferenc es and of normal ranges. Of the 3 bulk elements, the 3 major electrolytes, the 15 essential elements, the 8 toxic elements, the 4 therapeutic elements , and the 14 elements of potential interest (total of 47 elements) only 7 e lements (Ca, Cu, K, ME, Rb, Sr, Zn) can be simultaneously quantified under these rigorous conditions in serum and only 8 elements (additional element Pb) in whole blood. Quantification of elements in the Seronorm Standards "W hole Blood" and "Serum" showed, that this list of simultaneously determinab le elements in these matrices is reasonable. Although this list is disappoi ntingly short, the number of elements determinable simultaneously by ICP-MS is still larger than that by ICP-AES or GFAAS. improved detectors, more ef ficient nebulizers, avoidance of interferences, better instrument design, a nd high-resolution mass spectrometers promise to increase the number of ele ments that can be determined simultaneously.