Techniques for microdrop analysis of fluids (sweat, saliva, urine) with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer on a...

Volumes of 10(-10) liter of sweat, saliva, and urine were analyzed with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) X-ray analyzer on a standard scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results of the EDS analysis of diluted and undiluted samples were verified by comparison with results of analyses of the same sample prepared by conventional quantitative methods. Except for Cl in concentrated urines and Mg in low concentrations, good agreement was found between the methods. The analysis provides quantitation of most elements of biological interest present in concentrations of about 1 mM, while it demonstrates good linearity (r greater than 0.99) throughout a wide range of commonly encountered biological concentrations. Reproducibility of the analysis is on the order of 2% and the minimal determinable concentration is generally between 0.5 and 1.0 mM for S, P, K, and Ca and slightly more than 1.0 mM for Mg.