Determination of gallium in biological fluids using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A procedure for the determination of gallium in biological fluids by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed. The detection limits of gallium calculated from the 3s value were 60 ng/L for urine, 32 ng/L for a model solution of intestinal juice, and 50 ng/L for serum. The accuracy of the procedure was tested using a standard addition method. The nature of a background signal on the masses of gallium isotopes was studied with the use of a high-resolution mass spectrometer, and the background concentration of gallium in biological fluids was evaluated (5–7 ng/L). It was found that a background level in measurements performed on a quadrupole mass spectrometer depends on the interfering influence of polyatomic ions with close m/z ratios rather than on the background concentration of gallium. The procedure makes it possible to study the stability of pharmaceutical preparations based on gallium in biological media, their metabolism, and the excretion of preparations from the body.