title: Direct determination of zinc in serum by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry with a graphite furnace.
abstract: We developed a precise and accurate graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric method for the direct determination of zinc in serum. Serum samples are analyzed after 20-fold dilution with water of ultrapure analytical grade. No other reagent is used, from the moment of sampling until measurement. During atomization, the argon flow is kept at 150 mL/min instead of gas stop, to decrease the sensitivity and thus allow lower dilution ratios. Zinc concentrations are determined against a serum-matched calibration curve. Graphite tubes are uncoated and no L'vov platform is used. Between-run CVs were 5.9%, 3.5%, and 1.9% for serum zinc concentrations of 0.93, 1.15, and 1.43 mg/L, respectively. The characteristic mass was 9 pg, and the detection limit (meanblank + 3SDblank) was 0.060 mg/L.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology-Hypertension, University Hospital Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: D'Haese
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Lamberts
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Vanheule
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: De Broe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc