OBJECTIVETo establish a method of determining more elements in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

METHODSThe whole blood samples were treated by 5% nitric acid to remove the proteins, then were centrifuged. Sixteen elements (Be, Al, Mn, V, Cr, Co, Ni, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba,Tl, Pb and U) in the supernatant were directly measured by ICP-MS.

RESULTSThe detection limits of 16 elements were 0.01 ∼ 6.51 µg/L. The linear correlation coefficient was ≥ 0.999. The relative standard deviations were below 5 %. The recovery rates were 105% ∼ 115%. Seronorm Trace Elements SerumL-1 LOT 0903106 and GBW09139g or GBW09140g were used in the quality control, the detected results corresponded with the standard values.

CONCLUSIONICP-MS technique is a simple, rapid, accurate and reliable method, which can be used to measure several trace elements in whole blood samples.