Development of a Routine Method for the Determination of Trace Metals in Whole Blood by Magnetic Sector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry with Particular Relevance to Patients with Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

The simple, rapid method of sample preparation is effective in minimizing potential contamination and enables 60 samples (run time, 8 h) to be analyzed before cleaning the instrument is necessary. A resolution >3000 was sufficient to separate polyatomic interferences from the masses of interest. The method was used to analyze a large number of blood samples taken from primary patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty. The method is sensitive enough to provide base concentrations for chromium, cobalt, and molybdenum in whole blood. The results for nickel were compromised by high signals for blank samples.