Determination of Aluminum in Serum in Customer-Validated Applications using THGA and Longitudinal Zeeman Atomic Absorption

Determinations of aluminum (Al) in serum are performed routinely by laboratories through customer-validated applications. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) is one of only a few routine techniques with a dynamic range sensitive enough to be used clinically in customervalidated applications to measure Al in serum. There are a few specific analytical challenges that an analyst must consider in the determination of Al in serum by GFAAS. The serum matrix contains an organic carbohydrate fraction as well as a considerable level of inorganic salts, all of which can interfere with an accurate GFAAS measurement. Some means of reducing these interferences must be considered. Aluminum is also a commonly occurring element such that pronounced external contamination of the sample can occur during the sample-handling phases of the analytical method. Minimal analyst interaction with the sample prior to analysis is needed in order to reduce the chance and degree of contamination.