title: Elemental microanalysis of individual blood cells.
abstract: A scanning proton microprobe was used to study single red blood cells in freeze-dried, whole-blood specimens. Simultaneous collection of PIXE and of forward and backward scattered proton data provided information on the heavier elements (Z>27) and on the organic mass under investigation. The trace elemental spectrum of a red cell was found to be reproducible, and no elemental losses were observed during proton bombardment. The spatial resolution of the probe (1.5 μm for these studies) enabled the red cell's biconcave disk shape to be visualized in quantitative two- and three-dimensional maps of H, C, P, S, Cl, K, and Fe.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Legge