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Optimization of ICP-MS internal standardization for 26 elements by factorial design experiment
Thomas Lanot1, Michel Lavit1, Peggy Gandia1
1Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology Laboratory, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
Summary
Choosing the right internal standard (IS) for inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is crucial for accurate biological sample analysis. Empirical selection, rather than mass proximity, significantly improves results, especially for complex analytes.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Internal standardization (IS) in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) minimizes matrix effects for reliable results.
- IS selection traditionally relies on analyte-IS mass proximity, but this is not always effective, particularly in biological samples with high carbon content.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an empirical approach for internal standard selection in ICP-MS.
- To evaluate the suitability of 13 potential internal standards for 26 analytes in human blood and urine.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a factorial design of experiments (DoE) for a comprehensive evaluation.
- Tested 13 internal standards across 324 experimental conditions for 26 analytes in biological matrices.
Main Results:
- Identified exceptions to the mass proximity rule for internal standard selection, especially for heavy or polyatomic analytes.
- Demonstrated that mass proximity-based IS selection can lead to over 30-fold errors in extreme conditions.
Conclusions:
- Empirical internal standard selection is superior to mass proximity for accurate ICP-MS analysis of biological samples.
- The proposed DoE approach provides a robust method for optimizing internal standard selection in clinical analysis.
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