Rapid analysis of nickel in serum and whole blood by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry

A method is described for analysis of nickel in serum and heparinized blood. After the sample has been subjected to protein precipitation with nitric acid and heat, nickel in the protein-free extract is measured by electrothermal atomic absorption with Zeeman background correction. The method is more sensitive, rapid, and convenient than previous techniques, and less subject to nickel contamination. Nickel concentrations in serums from New Zealand rabbits (mean +/- SD) average 4.0 +/- 2.5 micrograms per L, range = 0.9 to 11.9, N = 30; these results agree with measurements by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) reference procedure ( corr . coef . = 0.98). The following values are reported for nickel concentrations in serum and whole blood from healthy adult persons living in central Connecticut: serum, 0.46 +/- 0.26 micrograms per L, range = 0.1 to 1.3, N = 39; whole blood, 1.26 +/- 0.33 micrograms per L, range = 0.6 to 1.8, N = 30. This method is suitable for routine use in clinical and industrial laboratories.