Multielement analysis of biological reference materials by total-reflection X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the semiquant mode

Summary Total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used for the analysis of two biological reference materials. The quantifications were carried out after addition of one single standard element which serves as an internal standard in both cases. The results of TXRF analysis were good to satisfactory. The method is therefore suitable for fast multielement analysis, because it needs no special calibration specimens. The results of ICP-MS analysis are at least in the order of magnitude of the certified values. In some cases recoveries fit very well. For quantitative analysis, however, the use of the standard addition method or the calibration with external standards is required.