Assessment of the contamination from devices used for sampling and storageof whole blood and serum for element analysis

An assessment of potential contamination risk associated with devices routi nely used in hospitals and clinical Laboratories for sampling and storage o f whole blood and serum was made by analysis of Leachates from the devices. The devices checked were disposable stainless steel needles, different typ es of blood collection tubes; serum separation tubes, disposable plastic pi pettes and plastic vials used for serum storage. Concentrations of about 70 elements in solution after Leaching with 0.05 mol l(-1) HNO3 were determin ed by double focusing sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrom etry (sector field ICP-MS). For the elements present in blood/serum at conc entrations higher than 10 ng ml(-1) (Na, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Br, Si, Zn, Cu, Rb, Se and I) contribution from devices was as a rule negligible (Less than 1% of expected concentrations in the body fluids), but for the majority of tr ace and ultra-trace elements it may significantly affect or even prevent ac curate determination. The highest trace element contribution was found to d erive from commercially available blood collection and serum separation tub es. Apparent concentrations of At, Ba, Th, rare earth, and some other eleme nts resulting from contamination were higher than normal serum concentratio ns all types of tubes tested for.