Determination of Zn, Cu and Fe in human patients' serum using micro-sampling ICP-MS and sample dilution

A high-throughput, sensitive and rapid method was developed for the determination of Zn, Cu and Fe in small volumes (30 μL) of human serum using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The sample preparation procedure employed simple 100-fold dilution of the serum samples with 1.0% butanol, 0.5% v/v ammonia, 0.02% v/v Triton X-100 and 0.01% v/v HNO3. The reliability of the method was evaluated using serum UTAK certified reference material, and the results matched well with the certified values. The method was applied to determine Zn, Cu and Fe in 81 human serum samples from participants in Alzheimer disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) studies. No significant differences were found in Zn and Cu levels between age matched controls, AD and AMD patients. Whilst iron levels appeared marginally higher in the AMD group, compared with the AD group, iron showed larger overall variability than the other two elements. [Display omitted] •Zn, Cu and Fe were determined in as little as 30μL serum from AD and AMD patients for the first time.•Micro-sampling (30 μL) provided a method readily amenable to automated analysis.•Preparation of serum with Ammonia-Triton X-100-HNO3 provides a stable solution for ICP-MS sample introduction.•Serum UTAK CRM was used for method validation and was more reliable than Seronorm™.•Data from patients with AD/AMD conditions have been compared.