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Clinical Chemistry 21: 537-543, 1975;
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Clinical Chemistry, Vol 21, 537-543, Copyright © 1975 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Ultramicro Analysis for Copper, Cadmium, and Zinc in Human Liver Tissue by Use of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and the Heated Graphite Tube Atomizer

Merle A. Evenson 1 and C. Thomas Anderson Jr. 1

1 Departments of Medicine, Pathology and Toxicology Laboratories, University of Wisconsin Hospitals, Madison, Wis. 53706.

We describe a method of analysis for copper, cadmium, and zinc in a 15-mg (wet weight) sample of human liver by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The sample is digested with nitric acid (1.0 mol/liter), evaporated, and dilute HNO3 (10 mmol/liter) added. The reconstituted acid mixture is injected into the graphite tube atomizer for analysis of Cu and Cd and aspirated into the airacetylene flame for measurement of Zn. The absorbance for each metal is suppressed with increasing pH. NaNO3, KNO3, KCl, and NaCl (e.g.) quench the Cd absorbance in acid solutions that contain no protein, but not in the presence of protein. Metal ions added to the predigestion human liver sample at 10% and 100% of the intrinsic metal concentrations were, respectively, 93% and 90% accounted for analytically in the case of Cu, 98% and 102% for Zn, and 101% and 93% for Cd. Analysis of a National Bureau of Standards' Bovine Liver Standard Reference Material yielded results corresponding to 99% (Cu), 112% (Zn), and 91% (Cd) of the mean expected concentrations of these metals. The between-run coefficient of variation for the bovine liver material was 6% for Cu, 9% for Zn, and 10% for Cd. For 16 histologically normal samples of human liver, the mean values were: Cu, 26; Zn, 293; and Cd, 6.0 nanograms of metal per milligram dry weight, in agreement with values published previously. The method can be easily and reliably applied to small samples of liver obtained by closed-needle biopsy.


Key Words: analysis of biopsy samples • Wilson's disease • normal values • diagnostic aid • toxicology • effects of matrix • criteria for assessing analytical variables

Submitted on November 13, 1974
Accepted on December 31, 1974




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Copyright © 1975 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.