Direct determination of iron in urine and serum using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple, rapid and low-cost method for the routine determination of iron in urine and serum using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is described which may provide an alternative to the more widespread automated spectrophotometric methods. The urine and serum samples were simply diluted with water prior to analysis. Matrix modification was found to be redundant. The standard additions technique or the use of matrix matched standards (addition calibration) was found to be unnecessary and, therefore, the calibration was performed using aqueous standards. For serum analysis the degree of dilution could be reduced by using the less sensitive 302.0-nm resonance line, yielding more precise determinations, and for urine analysis, interferences were eliminated by means of a L'vov platform. The interferences that exist in the presence of nitric acid are also discussed. Finally, the presence of background absorption was investigated by means of Zeeman effect atomic absorption.