MLAB 2401: Clinical Chemistry

Keri Brophy-Martinez
Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometry
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
 Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer (AAS)
• Clinical Applications
– measure the concentration of metallic atoms (i.e., Ca, Mg, Pb,
Zn, etc.)

• Principle
1. Measures the concentration of free metallic atoms, not
molecules
2. An acetylene (or occasionally argon) powered flame dissociates
molecules isolating the metallic atoms.
3. A beam of monochromatic light (produced by a special hollow
cathode lamp) passes through the top of the flame.
4. The metallic atoms absorb the light proportionally to their
concentration.
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
Atomic Absorption
 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
• Specimens
– Usually diluted with DI water
• Serum
• Urine
• Hemolysate
• Hair
 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
• Interferences
– occur for variety of reasons, usually can be prevented or
limited.
• Three types
– Chemical
• Chemical interference is when other atoms present absorb light.
– Physical
• Flame temperature/ sample aspiration
– Ionic
• Some elements would rather ionize than dissociate in
their ground state
 References
• Bishop, M., Fody, E., & Schoeff, l. (2010). Clinical Chemistry:
Techniques, principles, Correlations. Baltimore: Wolters
Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Sunheimer, R., & Graves, L. (2010). Clinical Laboratory
Chemistry. Upper Saddle River: Pearson .