Using dried-droplet laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to quantify multiple elements in whole blood

This paper describes a simple procedure for the direct analysis and determination of multiple elements in dried blood samples on a filter membrane using laser ablation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). With this technique, we simultaneously quantified 13 elements in whole blood: Be, Mn, Co, Ni, Tl, Bi, Sb, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ba, Mg, and Cd. The measured accuracies was in agreement with the Seronorm CRM certified values, except for Mn, Zn, Ba and Cd, which presented absolute differences higher than the expanded uncertainty for these elements. The within-run precision was less than 5.7% (relative standard deviation, RSD), except for the analyses of Be, and Mn (8.6% and 11.1%, respectively). The reproducibility (between-run precision) was calculated in terms of the RSD obtained for 12 analyses (i.e., four replicates of each sample in three analytical runs). Apart from Be, Mn, and Zn, the reproducibilities of all the elements listed above ranged between 4.0% and 8.5%. In contrast, for Cd, the concentration obtained was significantly different from the certified value; analyses of this element exhibited low reproducibility. Applying the matrix-matched calibration method, the accuracy for Cd measured was in agreement with both SRM966 and BCR 635; thus, matrix-matched calibration is a practical means of overcoming matrix-enhancement effects for the quantification of Cd. Sample throughput (ca. 5 min per sample) made it possible to rapidly screen a larger number of samples relative to other techniques that require time-consuming sample preparation steps (e.g., removal of a portion of the solid sample or digestion).