Highly sensitive measurement of whole blood chromium by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Chromium (Cr), a trace metal element, is implicated in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A hypochromic state has been associated with poor blood glucose control and unfavorable lipid metabolism. Sensitive and accurate measurement of blood chromium is very important to assess the chromium nutritional status. However, interferents in biological matrices and contamination make the sensitive analysis challenging. The primary goal of this study was to develop a highly sensitive method for quantification of total Cr in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and to validate the reference interval in a local healthy population. This method was developed on an ICP-MS with a collision/reaction cell. Interference was minimized using both kinetic energy discrimination between the quadrupole and hexapole and a selective collision gas (helium). Reference interval was validated in whole blood samples (n=51) collected in trace element free EDTA tubes from healthy adults (12 males, 39 females), aged 19–64years (38.8±12.6), after a minimum of 8h fasting. Blood samples were aliquoted into cryogenic vials and stored at −70°C until analysis. The assay linearity was 3.42 to 1446.59nmol/L with an accuracy of 87.7 to 99.8%. The high sensitivity was achieved by minimization of interference through selective kinetic energy discrimination and selective collision using helium. The reference interval for total Cr using a non-parametric method was verified to be 3.92 to 7.48nmol/L. This validated ICP-MS methodology is highly sensitive and selective for measuring total Cr in whole blood. ► Interference was removed by kinetic energy discrimination and helium collision gas. ► Highly sensitive with a lower limit of quantification of 3.42nmol/L. ► A reference range was verified by a carefully recruited local healthy population.