Storage and preservation of blood and urine for trace element analysis. A review

In any well-defined study, a sample preservation and storage scheme compatible with the information or analyte sought should be incorporated. This article emphasizes the need for preservation and storage of biological fluids collected for trace element determination; cites the major factors, such as container material, container pretreatment, storage time, storage temperature, and contamination of the laboratory environment affecting preservation; presents a historical account of the available literature studies on the preservation and storage of trace metals in whole blood, plasma, serum, and urine; and makes recommendations on the most effective storage and preservation methods.

Determination of zinc in whole blood, plasma and serum using Zeeman effect flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

Methods are presented for the determination of zinc in whole blood, plasma and serum using Zeeman effect flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and a flame microsampling funnel. Whole blood was diluted 1/25 with 0.10 mol/l hydrochloric acid; plasma and serum were diluted 1/5 with deionized water. Concentrations could be read directly from standards prepared in human blood pools. The within-run relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.50%, 0.82% and 0.61% for whole blood specimens with concentrations of 4 360 micrograms/l, 5 967 micrograms/l and 8 297 micrograms/l, respectively. The within-run RSD was 2.09%, 1.16% and 0.62% for plasma specimens with zinc concentrations of 442 micrograms/l, 976 micrograms/l and 1 731 micrograms/l, respectively. The within-run RSD was 1.18%, 1.22% and 1.02% for serum specimens with zinc concentrations of 492 micrograms/l, 1 023 micrograms/l and 1 533 micrograms/l, respectively. The detection limit was 3.6 micrograms/l.