Use of ion-selective electrodes for blood-electrolyte analysis. Recommendations for nomenclature, definitions and conventions

This paper will familiarize the reader with the terms used to describe the behavior of ion-selective electrodes, particularly in relation to their use in clinical chemistry for determination of blood electrolyte cations. It s erves as an introduction to a series of papers dealing with important catio ns in blood, namely calcium, sodium, and potassium. The detailed relationsh ips between the ion activity determined by means of ion-selective electrode potentiometry in undiluted specimens, and the total substance concentratio n measured by flame atomic-emission spectrometry are described by flow char t and equations. Adoption of a convention for reporting results is recommen ded. The Working Group on Selective Electrodes has taken into account recent rev isions of IUPAC recommendations on nomenclature and selectivity coefficient determinations for ion-selective electrodes, and benefited from the experi ence of a member of the WG, who was also involved in the IUPAC discussions. Nomenclature for determined quantities follows previous IUPAC/IFCC joint r ecommendations.