Methodology

Instrument

ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry)

• There are two types of ICP-MS: High Resolution Sector Field ICP-MS (HR-SF-ICP-MS) and Low Resolution Quadrupole ICP-MS.
• HR-SF-ICP-MS has the highest level of analytical performance and has been generally recognized by peers as the Gold Standard for analysis of trace elements in biological matrices. Our laboratory uses 2 HR-SF-ICP-MS to provide you the highest quality and superior pricing.
• We also follow US FDA stringent requirements for metal ion analysis to evaluate patients with metallic orthopedic implants.

Advantages of High Resolution SF-ICP-MS

• It has much lower detection limits (10-100 times lower) than Quadrupole ICP-MS and can measure very low concentrations (ng/L- pg/L). This capability is crucial to accurately measure ultra-trace elements such as Arsenic, Antimony, Chromium, Cobalt, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Niobium, Titanium, Thallium, and Vanadium.
• It can simultaneously determine up to 40 or more elements in 1 single sample. The property of multi-elemental analysis can increase the efficiency of testing services and reduce the cost.
• It has high mass resolution and can completely separate target metal ions from interferences, producing accurate and reliable results that Quadrupole ICP-MS may overestimate.

Shown below is an example of elimination of interferences from Chromium (52Cr). Chromium has overlapping interference polyatomic ions (40Ar12C and 35Cl16O1H) originating from Argon and/or the sample matrix. The mass of the polyatomic ion is almost the same as the mass of Cr. Low resolution Quadrupole ICP-MS cannot differentiate the interfering ions from Cr, therefore, producing falsely high results. HR-ICP-MS can completely separate the interferences from Cr, producing accurate results.