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Published on: May 4, 2020
Highly sensitive measurement of whole blood chromium by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Wendy Cieslak1, Kathleen Pap, Dustin R Bunch
1Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Insights
This study developed a highly sensitive method for measuring chromium (Cr) in blood using ICP-MS. The new method establishes a reference interval of 3.92 to 7.48 nmol/L for total chromium in healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Trace Element Analysis
- Mass Spectrometry
Background:
- Chromium (Cr) is a vital trace element linked to diabetes and cardiovascular health.
- Accurate blood chromium measurement is crucial for assessing nutritional status but is challenging due to matrix interferences and contamination.
- A hypochromic state correlates with poor blood glucose control and lipid metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly sensitive method for quantifying total chromium in whole blood using ICP-MS.
- To validate a reference interval for blood chromium in a healthy local population.
Main Methods:
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with a collision/reaction cell was employed.
- Interference was minimized using kinetic energy discrimination and helium as a selective collision gas.
- Reference interval was determined in 51 healthy adults (19-64 years) using whole blood samples.
Main Results:
- The developed assay demonstrated excellent linearity (3.42–1446.59 nmol/L) and accuracy (87.7–99.8%).
- High sensitivity was achieved by effectively minimizing interference.
- The validated reference interval for total chromium in whole blood was determined to be 3.92–7.48 nmol/L.
Conclusions:
- The validated ICP-MS methodology offers high sensitivity and selectivity for total chromium measurement in whole blood.
- This method provides a reliable tool for assessing chromium status.
Objectives:
Chromium (Cr), a trace metal element, is implicated in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A hypochromic state has been associated with poor blood glucose control and unfavorable lipid metabolism. Sensitive and accurate measurement of blood chromium is very important to assess the chromium nutritional status. However, interferents in biological matrices and contamination make the sensitive analysis challenging. The primary goal of this study was to develop a highly sensitive method for quantification of total Cr in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and to validate the reference interval in a local healthy population.
Design And Methods:
This method was developed on an ICP-MS with a collision/reaction cell. Interference was minimized using both kinetic energy discrimination between the quadrupole and hexapole and a selective collision gas (helium). Reference interval was validated in whole blood samples (n=51) collected in trace element free EDTA tubes from healthy adults (12 males, 39 females), aged 19-64 years (38.8±12.6), after a minimum of 8 h fasting. Blood samples were aliquoted into cryogenic vials and stored at -70 °C until analysis.
Results:
The assay linearity was 3.42 to 1446.59 nmol/L with an accuracy of 87.7 to 99.8%. The high sensitivity was achieved by minimization of interference through selective kinetic energy discrimination and selective collision using helium. The reference interval for total Cr using a non-parametric method was verified to be 3.92 to 7.48 nmol/L.
Conclusion:
This validated ICP-MS methodology is highly sensitive and selective for measuring total Cr in whole blood.
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