Analysis of toxic heavy metals in liquid versus dried blood samples

Abstract

ABSTRACT Heavy metal contamination is a continuous concern for the scientific and medical communities. Efficiency, accuracy, and speed of heavy metal testing are pivotal parameters for both screening studies and clinical diagnosis. In this study, analysis of some heavy metals using ICP-OES was performed in liquid and dried blood spots (DBS). The average recovery rate of Cd from liquid and dry blood (92.3%, 96.3%) was within permissible limits, but the extraction of Cd from DBS had a better recovery than liquid blood. This was apparent in all extractions of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Sr from DBS, but the ratios in DBS and liquid blood are close, and the mean recovery rates was (101.8%, 101.5%, 99.9%, 104%, and 103%) respectively. The mean recovery for these elements from liquid blood were (94.2%, 95.6%, 95.1%, 97.1% and 96%) respectively. The association between liquid blood and DBS samples was very low for Cr, Ni, and Sr (0.295%, 0.021% and 0.048), respectively, while was none for other elements, Cd, Cu and Mn (−0.092%, −0.167% and −0.375%) respectively. The results indicate that there is no difference in the recovery ratios of all metals between liquid and DBS, where liquid blood could be replaced by using DBS.