Injurious effect of EDTA contamination on colorimetry of serum iron

Colorimetry of iron in serum with Ferrozine (as used in the Technicon SMAC) or with bathophenanthroline (as used in the Du Pont aca) is influenced by EDTA, in contrast to such measurements with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Therefore EDTA contamination should be avoided with these colorimetric methods. If, however, contamination with EDTA is suspected, addition of zinc sulfate to serum or to the SMAC "ascorbic acid reagent" will cancel the influence of EDTA on measurements of iron in the SMAC.