Measurement of erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration by double extraction and spectrofluorometry

Quantification of the level of erythrocyte protoporphyrin can be used as a screening assay for lead exposure. In this method, porphyrins and heme compounds are extracted from whole blood using ethyl acetate, and porphyrins are then separated from heme by back-extraction with HCl solution. The extracted porphyrins are then quantified using a spectrofluorometer calibrated with protoporphyrin IX standard solutions.