Determination de microquantites de lithium serique par spectrometrie d'absorption atomique sans flamme

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry is used to determine traces of lithium in blood serum; the limit of detection had to be decreased by optimizing the experimental conditions. Signal intensity and reproducibility were improved by the addition of Triton X-100 (0.1%). Other additives examined were less effective. The validity of the final method was checked by statistical tests for linearity of response and precision. The method is suitable for the determination of lithium in sera of normal subjects who have not had lithium therapy; the limits of the normal range are 2–17 μg l^?1 with a mean value of 8 μg l^?1.