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. 2022 Dec 17:27:33-39.
doi: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2022.12.005. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Method validation of multi-element panel in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Amol O Bajaj  1   2 , Rebecca Parker  2 , Candice Farnsworth  2 , Christian Law  2 , Kamisha L Johnson-Davis  3   1
Affiliations

Method validation of multi-element panel in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Amol O Bajaj et al. J Mass Spectrom Adv Clin Lab. .

Abstract

Background: Analytical methods to measure trace and toxic elements are essential to evaluate exposure and nutritional status. A ten-element panel was developed and validated for clinical testing in whole blood. Retrospective data analysis was conducted on patient samples performed at ARUP Laboratories.

Methods: A method was developed and validated to quantify ten elements in whole blood by ICP-MS. Fifty microliters of sample were extracted with 950 μL of diluent containing 1 % ammonium hydroxide, 0.1 % Triton X-100, 1.75 % EDTA along with spiked internal standards. Four calibrators were used for each element and prepared in goat blood to match the patient specimen matrix. Samples were analyzed with an Agilent 7700 ICP-MS with a Cetac MVX 7100 μL Workstation autosampler.

Results: The assay was linear for all elements with inter- and intra-assay imprecision less than or equal to 11% CV at the low end of the analytical measurement range (AMR) and less than or equal to 4% CV at the upper end of the AMR for all elements. Accuracy was checked with a minimum of 40 repeat patient samples, proficiency testing samples, and matrix-matched spikes. The linear slopes for the ten elements ranged from 0.94 to 1.03 with intercepts below the AMR and R2 ranging from 0.97 to 1.00.

Conclusions: The multi-element panel was developed to analyze ten elements in whole blood to unify the sample preparation and increase batch run efficiency. The improved analytical method utilized matrix-matched calibrators for accurate quantification to meet regulatory requirements. The assay was validated according to guidelines for CLIA-certified clinical laboratories and was suitable for clinical testing to assess nutritional status and toxic exposure.

Keywords: AAPCC, American Association of Poison Control Centers; AMR, Analytical measurement range; As, arsenic; Bi, bismuth; CLIA, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments; CLRW, Clinical Laboratory Reagent Water; Cd, cadmium; Co, cobalt; Hg, mercury; ICP-MS; ICP-MS, Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; IRB, institutional review board; KED, kinetic energy discrimination; LOB, limit of the blank; LOD, limit of detection; LOQ, limit of quantitation; Method validation; Mn, manganese; NH4OH, ammonium hydroxide; Pb, lead; SD, standard deviation; Sb, antimony; Tl, thallium; Toxic elements; Trace elements; ULOQ, upper limit of quantification; WB, Whole blood; Whole blood; Zn, zinc.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The simple linear regression and Bias plots for Sb, As, Bi (A), Cd, Co, Pb (B), Mn, Hg (C) and Tl, Zn (D) analyzed for evaluation of accuracy of the method.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The simple linear regression and Bias plots for Sb, As, Bi (A), Cd, Co, Pb (B), Mn, Hg (C) and Tl, Zn (D) analyzed for evaluation of accuracy of the method.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The simple linear regression and Bias plots for Sb, As, Bi (A), Cd, Co, Pb (B), Mn, Hg (C) and Tl, Zn (D) analyzed for evaluation of accuracy of the method.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The simple linear regression and Bias plots for Sb, As, Bi (A), Cd, Co, Pb (B), Mn, Hg (C) and Tl, Zn (D) analyzed for evaluation of accuracy of the method.
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