Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: Introduction to Analytical Aspects

Overview

Journal Clin Biochem Rev

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 2019 Sep 19

PMID 31530963

Citations 104

Authors

Scott C Wilschefski

Matthew R Baxter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is an analytical technique that can be used to measure elements at trace levels in biological fluids. Although older techniques such as atomic absorption and atomic emission are still in use by some laboratories, there has been a slow shift toward ICP-MS, particularly in the last decade. As this shift is likely to continue, clinical scientists should be aware of the analytical aspects of ICP-MS, as well as the potential for both spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic interference, and strategies that can be employed to eliminate or mitigate these issues.

Citing Articles

Micronutrient Biofortification in Wheat: QTLs, Candidate Genes and Molecular Mechanism.

Nasim A, Hao J, Tawab F, Jin C, Zhu J, Luo S Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(5).

PMID: 40076800 PMC: 11900071. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26052178.

Chemical Characterization in Medical Device Evaluation: Current Practices, Regulatory Requirements, and Future Directions.

Szymanski L, Kiernozek M, Gromadka B, Straszecka W, Wiktorek-Smagur A, Matak D Ann Biomed Eng. 2025; .

PMID: 40035968 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-025-03702-5.

ICP-MS Method for Simultaneous Determination of Aluminum, Sodium, and Potassium in Human Albumin Solution for Infusion.

Gundogdu S, Aytimur Y, Turhan S, Sahin A Int J Anal Chem. 2025; 2025:2793979.

PMID: 40018373 PMC: 11867715. DOI: 10.1155/ianc/2793979.

Drain fluid iodine as a biomarker of anastomotic leak after low anterior resection in patients undergoing Gastrografin rectal tube flushes and omission of a diverting ileostomy: The GUSH study.

Clark D, Dobeli K, Allen D, McWhinney B, Lonne M, Edmundson A Colorectal Dis. 2025; 27(2):e70031.

PMID: 39973087 PMC: 11840294. DOI: 10.1111/codi.70031.

MS-Based Characterization of Biomass-Derived Materials: Activated Carbons and Solvent Liquefaction Products.

Gutierrez Reyes C, Onigbinde S, Amarasekara A, Adeniyi M, Solomon J, Gonzalez Ponce H Polymers (Basel). 2025; 17(3).

PMID: 39940460 PMC: 11820658. DOI: 10.3390/polym17030258.

References

Case C, Ellis L, Turner J, Fairman B . Development of a routine method for the determination of trace metals in whole blood by magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with particular relevance to patients with total hip and knee arthroplasty. Clin Chem. 2001; 47(2):275-80. View

Vanhaecke F, Resano M, Moens L . Electrothermal vaporisation ICP-mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) for the determination and speciation of trace elements in solid samples - A review of real-life applications from the author's lab. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2002; 374(2):188-95. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-002-1338-3. View

Rodushkin I, Engstrom E, Stenberg A, Baxter D . Determination of low-abundance elements at ultra-trace levels in urine and serum by inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2004; 380(2):247-57. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-004-2742-7. View

Baxter D, Rodushkin I, Engstrom E, Klockare D, Waara H . Methylmercury measurement in whole blood by isotope-dilution GC-ICPMS with 2 sample preparation methods. Clin Chem. 2006; 53(1):111-6. DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2007.072520. View

Miyake Y, Yamashita N, So M, Rostkowski P, Taniyasu S, Lam P . Trace analysis of total fluorine in human blood using combustion ion chromatography for fluorine: a mass balance approach for the determination of known and unknown organofluorine compounds. J Chromatogr A. 2007; 1154(1-2):214-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2007.03.084. View

Vanhaecke F, Vanhoe H, Dams R, Vandecasteele C . The use of internal standards in ICP-MS. Talanta. 1992; 39(7):737-42. DOI: 10.1016/0039-9140(92)80088-u. View

Pitt J . Principles and applications of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in clinical biochemistry. Clin Biochem Rev. 2009; 30(1):19-34. PMC: 2643089. View

Batista B, Rodrigues J, Nunes J, de Oliveira Souza V, Barbosa Jr F . Exploiting dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (DRC-ICP-MS) for sequential determination of trace elements in blood using a dilute-and-shoot procedure. Anal Chim Acta. 2009; 639(1-2):13-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2009.03.016. View

Afolaranmi G, Tettey J, Meek R, Grant M . Release of chromium from orthopaedic arthroplasties. Open Orthop J. 2009; 2:10-8. PMC: 2685051. DOI: 10.2174/1874325000802010010. View

10.

Bocca B, Mattei D, Pino A, Alimonti A . Uncertainty evaluation in the analysis of biological samples by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Part A: Measurements of Be, Cd, Hg, Ir, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rh, Sb, U, Tl and W in human serum. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2010; 24(16):2363-9. DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4650. View

11.

Navas-Acien A, Francesconi K, Silbergeld E, Guallar E . Seafood intake and urine concentrations of total arsenic, dimethylarsinate and arsenobetaine in the US population. Environ Res. 2010; 111(1):110-8. PMC: 3073506. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2010.10.009. View

12.

Walter A, Nelms S, Harrington C, Taylor A . Interference of gadolinium on the measurement of selenium in human serum by inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Ann Clin Biochem. 2011; 48(Pt 2):176-7. DOI: 10.1258/acb.2010.010030. View

13.

Psychogios N, Hau D, Peng J, Guo A, Mandal R, Bouatra S . The human serum metabolome. PLoS One. 2011; 6(2):e16957. PMC: 3040193. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016957. View

14.

Amayo K, Petursdottir A, Newcombe C, Gunnlaugsdottir H, Raab A, Krupp E . Identification and quantification of arsenolipids using reversed-phase HPLC coupled simultaneously to high-resolution ICPMS and high-resolution electrospray MS without species-specific standards. Anal Chem. 2011; 83(9):3589-95. DOI: 10.1021/ac2005873. View

15.

DIlio S, Violante N, Majorani C, Petrucci F . Dynamic reaction cell ICP-MS for determination of total As, Cr, Se and V in complex matrices: still a challenge? A review. Anal Chim Acta. 2011; 698(1-2):6-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2011.04.052. View

16.

Hart A, Sabah S, Bandi A, Maggiore P, Tarassoli P, Sampson B . Sensitivity and specificity of blood cobalt and chromium metal ions for predicting failure of metal-on-metal hip replacement. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2011; 93(10):1308-13. DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.93B10.26249. View

17.

Agatemor C, Beauchemin D . Matrix effects in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: a review. Anal Chim Acta. 2011; 706(1):66-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2011.08.027. View

18.

Balcaen L, Bolea-Fernandez E, Resano M, Vanhaecke F . Accurate determination of ultra-trace levels of Ti in blood serum using ICP-MS/MS. Anal Chim Acta. 2014; 809:1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2013.10.017. View

19.

Ryan J, Grant S, Walmsley T, Florkowski C, George P . Falsely elevated plasma selenium due to gadolinium contrast interference: a novel solution to a preanalytical problem. Ann Clin Biochem. 2014; 51(Pt 6):714-6. DOI: 10.1177/0004563214529262. View

20.

Novak P, Zuliani T, Milacic R, Scancar J . Development of an analytical procedure for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in environmental water samples by GC-ICP-MS. Anal Chim Acta. 2014; 827:64-73. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2014.04.020. View