The paper punched disc technique for lead in blood samples with abnormal haemoglobin values

A series of 15 blood samples with haemoglobin levels ranging from 4-6--16-1 g/dl were spotted on to Whatman No. 4 filter paper. Blood samples with low haemoglobin concentrations spread over a greater area of the filter paper than did those with high haemoglobin concentrations. This was further investigated by studying the performance of laboratory-prepared samples, and any effect on the estimation of blood lead value. Blood lead values assayed by the punched disc method on blood samples with low haemoglobin values were unreliable unless the estimated value was adjusted with respect to the area over which the blood had spread.