Validation of determination of lead (Pb) in blood by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) on the basis of interlaboratory comparison data.
ISO 15189 standard establishes a requirement to periodically revalidate analytical methods for the determination of trace elements like Pb in blood, as conditions change and technical advances are made. The aim of this study was to revalidate an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) method for determination of Pb in blood over the microrange 25-35 microg/dL, on the basis of historical results of interlaboratory comparison programmes. Precision and inaccuracy were estimated by analysis of records of an external quality control programme for Pb (PICC-PbS). The precision and inaccuracy values obtained were both less than 5%, highly satisfactory in view of the validation requirement that precision and inaccuracy be less than 10%. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of this new validation methodology, which does not require any disruption of the laboratory's routine activity, and which can be used even if the method in question has not been validated previously at that laboratory.
Izquierdo Alvarez
Silvia
S
Servicio de Bioquímica Clínica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Paseo Isabel la Católica 1-3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. sizquierdo@salud.aragon.es
Calvo Ruata
Maria Luisa
ML
González López
Jose Manuel
JM
de Jalón Comet
Angel García
AG
Escanero Marcén
Jesús Fernando
JF
D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
D007854:Lead