Determination of copper and zinc in serum and urine by use of a slotted quartz tube and flame atomic-absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The use of a slotted quartz tube in flame atomic-absorption spectrometry increases the sensitivity for various elements, including copper and zinc. A method for the determination of copper or zinc in serum following 21-fold dilution with water is described. Thus 20 µl of sample can be added to 0.4 ml of de-ionised water and three 100-µl aliquots injected into the nebuliser (aliquot microsampling). Precisions below 5% have been obtained for sera containing normal levels of either copper or zinc. The method has been shown to be inappropriate for the determination of normal levels of copper in urine.