Mussmann, G V

Abstract We evaluated the effectiveness of nickel and palladium with or without added potassium persulfate as matrix modifiers for the determination of total arsenic in urine. Complete recovery of pure aqueous solutions of As(III), As(V), cacodylic acid (DMA), monomethylarsinic acid (MMA), and o-arsanilic acid was attained by using both nickel and palladium modifiers. Combined arsenobetaine and arsenocholine (so-called fish arsenic), extracted from a certified control material of dogfish muscle (DORM-1), were completely recovered with Pd-S2O8 matrix modification, but not with nickel. Excellent agreement with target values for arsenic in urines from the Centre de Toxicologie du Quebec, supplied by the Interlaboratory Comparison Program, was attained irrespective of the arsenic source when we used Pd-S2O8 as the matrix modifier.

Abstract We evaluated the evacuated phlebotomy tube designed specifically for trace metal analysis by Sherwood Medical Co. Pools of human serum containing known concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, calcium, cadmium, copper, chromium, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, selenium, and zinc were exposed to the tube and rubber stopper for defined periods ranging from 5 min to 24 h. Analysis for each element was performed in a randomized fashion under rigidly controlled conditions by use of standard electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. In addition, for comparative purposes, we collected blood samples from normal volunteers by use of ultra-clean polystyrene phlebotomy syringes as well as standard evacuated phlebotomy tubes. We conclude that, except for lead, there was no significant contribution of any trace element studied from the evaluated tube and stopper to the serum. Because whole blood is the usual specimen for lead testing, the observation of a trace amount of lead in this tube designed for serum collection is trivial.