MoP-20


ROUTINE ICP-MS DETERMINATION IN BIOMEDICAL FLUIDS. PART 2: PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE VARIAN ULTRAMASS ICP-MS

G. Hams and S. Berger

Department of Biochemistry, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065


The performance of the Varian Ultramass ICP-MS was evaluated for a range of analytes in blood, urine, and serum. Results obtained were compared to existing atomic absorption spectrophotometric techniques.

Between-run imprecision was determined over a four month period using commercial or survey-validated quality control materials. Within-run imprecision was determined using a set of 8 samples with each being diluted three times and run amongst samples.

Within-run imprecision Between-run imprecision
Matrix Analyte Mean
µmol/L		 % RSD Matrix Analyte n Mean
µmol/L		 % RSD
Serum Al 1.23 4.31 Serum Al 27 1.77 13.96
Cu 16.45 1.64 Cu 27 16.09 4.63
Se 1.06 3.40 Se 27 1.08 9.02
Zn 19.68 1.46 Zn 27 30.33 5.10
Urine Al 1.97 4.16 Urine As 17 0.72 12.30
As 0.88 4.92 Cd 17 0.110 11.23
Cd 0.519 3.51 Cu 17 0.84 17.04
Cu 1.44 3.68 Pb 17 0.08 37.38
Pb 0.28 3.29 Sb 17 0.60 6.48
Sb 0.43 3.28 Tl 17 0.82 17.63
Tl 0.24 3.58 Blood As 18 0.39 23.90
Blood As 0.48 5.00 Cd 18 58.0 11.70
Cd 0.183 3.59 Mn 18 0.250 16.33
Mn 1.018 3.33 Pb 18 0.13 16.32
Pb 0.812 4.84 Se 18 1.25 18.56
Se 3.22 4.97        


Accuracy in urine, serum, and blood samples was evaluated by participation in external quality assurance programs. Trueness of the data obtained was found to be acceptable for all of the above analytes, with the exception of Sb, TI and AI which are not assessed by the program.

In conclusion, the Varian Ultramass ICP-MS offers a performance which is at least equivalent to existing atomic absorption spectrophotometric techniques. In addition, it provides faster turnaround time with multielement determinations and a wider range of analytes at trace levels.