Optimisation of the analytical conditions for the determination of aluminium in human blood plasma and serum by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Part 2. Assessment of the analytical method

Abstract

Some of the factors that can influence the precision, sensitivity and accuracy of the determination of aluminium in serum and plasma by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry are identified. These factors can broadly be divided into two groups, namely: instrumental conditions and sample pre-treatment. Variations in the above parameters can be controlled when attention is paid to the choice of the instrumental conditions and the necessary care is taken during sample preparation. Suggestions are made as to how this can be achieved. After optimisation of the analytical conditions, coefficients of variation of 10, 11 and 5% were found for the pyrolytic graphite coated tube, the L'vov platform-pyrolytic graphite coated tube combination and the uncoated tube, respectively, for the analysis of a diluted serum sample containing ca. 3 µg l^–1 aluminium.