A round-robin determination of boron in botanical and biological samples.
The accurate determination of boron (B) at trace and ultratrace concentrations is an important step toward establishing the role of B in biological functions. However, low-level B concentrations are difficult to determine accurately, especially for many botanical and biological matrices. A round-robin study was conducted to assess analytical agreement for low-level B determinations. Ten experienced research groups from analytical laboratories extending across Europe, Asia, and the US participated in this study. These groups represent a cross-section of academic, commercial, and government facilities. The researchers employed both ion-coupled plasma and neutron techniques in the study. Results from this round-robin study indicate good agreement between participating laboratories at the mg/kg level, but at the lowest levels, microg/kg, only three laboratories participated, and agreement was poor. By encouraging discussion among scientists over these data, the secondary goal of this round-robin study is to stimulate continued improvement in analytical procedures and techniques for accurate low-level B determinations. Furthermore, it is intended to encourage the development of a variety of low-level (low mg/kg and microg/kg) B certified reference samples in biological and botanical matrices. The results from the round-robin analyses were compiled and are summarized in this article.
Downing
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R.G.D. Research, Inc., Niskayuna, NY 12309-1711, USA.
Strong
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D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D001895:Boron / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012016:Reference Values; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods
D001895:Boron