TITLE:
Optimization of Dry Ashing of Whole Blood Samples for Trace Metal Analysis
AUTHORS:
Stefanie A. Bragg, Zi-Ling Xue
KEYWORDS:
Dry Ashing, Blood Samples, Trace Metal Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,
Vol.2 No.8,
December
7,
2011
ABSTRACT: Dry ashing is an established method. Ashing whole blood samples are, however, often difficult to carry out with significant sample loss, and the procedure is not well documented. A new procedure has been devel- oped and optimized to dry-ash whole blood samples for trace metal analyses. The procedure reduces both the dry-ashing time by more than two thirds and sample loss. The ashed sample can be readily used in subse- quent, simultaneous or individual analysis of several metals by ICP-OES, as demonstrated in the analysis of a whole blood sample. The new procedure is simple, inexpensive, and faster than the established method.