title: Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry as a routine method for the quantification of beryllium in blood and serum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A routine method for the quantification of beryllium in biological fluids is essential for the development of a chelation therapy for Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). We describe a procedure for the direct determination of beryllium in undigested micro quantities of human blood and serum using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Blood and serum samples are prepared respectively by a simple 8-fold and 5-fold dilution with a Nash Reagent. Three experimental setups are compared: using no modifier, using magnesium nitrate and using palladium/citric acid as chemical modifiers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In serum, both modifiers did not improve the method sensitivity, the optimal pyrolysis and atomization temperatures are 1000 degrees C and 2900 degrees C, respectively. In blood, 6 microg of magnesium nitrate was found to improve the method sensitivity. The optimal pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 800 degrees C and 2800 degrees C respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In serum, the method detection limit was 2 ng l(-1), the characteristic mass was 0.22 (+/- 0.07) pg and the accuracy ranged from 95 to 100%. In blood, the detection limit was 7 ng l(-1), the characteristic mass was 0.20 (+/- 0.02) pg and the accuracy ranged from 99 to 101%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. chadi.stephan@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Chadi H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brousseau
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sauvé