Rapid enzymatic pretreatment of samples before determining chromium in serum or plasma

A simplified method for preparing blood serum and plasma for Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry is described and applied to the measurement of chromium in human serum and plasma. This enzymatic degradation with bacterial protease (EC 3.4.21.3) requires little laboratory apparatus, decreases the work and time of sample preparation, and obviates some potential sources of contamination. We used bovine reference serum (USDA No. 7292) to validate Cr concentration. There was less Cr in serum than in plasma, whether sodium heparin or sodium citrate was used as anticoagulant. For six human subjects, Cr in serum averaged 0.15 (SD 0.02) micrograms/L, 0.26 (SD 0.03) micrograms/L in heparinized plasma, and 0.28 (SD 0.02) micrograms/L in citrated plasma. We postulate that the Cr concentration is lower in serum because some of the Cr binds to proteins complexed with the clot in the coagulation process.