Determination of selenium in Canadian food items by cyclic instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and pseudo-cyclic INAA (PCI NAA) have been used to determine the selenium content of a variety of Canad ian food items. Use of the 162-keV gamma ray of short-lived Se-77m in INAA allowed relatively simple and rapid determinations and was suitable for man y of the foods. PCINAA was found to give lower detection limits and was use d for the low-selenium food samples. Both internal and external quality ass essments were used to evaluate and assure the accuracy and precision of the methods developed.