Elemental analysis of whole blood using proton-induced X-ray emmission.

Abstract

A technique for the analysis of trace elements in whole blood was developed using proton-induced x-ray emission. Samples of 0.1 ml whole blood from humans and mice were dried, weighed, and then ashed in a plasma asher. Targets were prepared by placing drops made from the ash and a 100-ppM Pd solution onto Formvar backings. The samples were irradiated with 2.25-MeV protons, and the x-rays analyzed in a nondispersive x-ray detector. The elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Rb were detected with a precision of 7, 18, 7, 50, and 19%, respectively, in human whole blood. The precision of the technique was determined by statistical analyses of two different sets of 27 samples. The system was found to be linear for variations in elemental concentration. The accuracy for deterrmination of Zn was found to be within 10% by comparison to atomic absorption spectrometry.