18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Article history: Received 9 December 2013 Received in revised form 10 January 2014 Accepted 10 January 2014 Available online xxxx

We describe procedures for direct determination of lead and cadmium in blood and urine by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Before analysis, the samples are pre-ashed in microboats in an ordinary laboratory oven. In this way, many samples can be prepared and pre-ashed simultaneously. We find the procedures presented in this work to be rapid, accurate, and precise.