Optimization of Dry Ashing of Whole Blood Samples for Trace Metal Analysis

Stefanie A. Bragg, Zi-Ling Xue

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DOI: 10.4236/ajac.2011.28114                

Abstract

Dry ashing is an established method. Ashing whole blood samples are, however, often difficult to carry out with significant sample loss, and the procedure is not well documented. A new procedure has been devel- oped and optimized to dry-ash whole blood samples for trace metal analyses. The procedure reduces both the dry-ashing time by more than two thirds and sample loss. The ashed sample can be readily used in subse- quent, simultaneous or individual analysis of several metals by ICP-OES, as demonstrated in the analysis of a whole blood sample. The new procedure is simple, inexpensive, and faster than the established method.

Keywords

Dry Ashing, Blood Samples, Trace Metal Analysis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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