Savory J, Wills M R
Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908.
Clin Chem. 1992 Aug;38(8B Pt 2):1565-73.
Trace metals play important roles in biological processes, both as essential components and toxins. Monitoring body status of trace metals thus has become an important function of many clinical, industrial, and government laboratories. Deficiencies of some essential trace metals are seen occasionally, but of most importance is the area of metal toxicity resulting from environmental, occupational, accidental, or iatrogenic exposure. Major questions persist about which specimen best reflects body status, and in this regard each metal has different requirements. Blood is used most widely, urine has a few applications, and hair can be used, although external contamination is an ever-present problem. Tissue is by far the best specimen but is not easily obtained. Contamination of specimens during collection and processing must be controlled. Of the instrumental techniques available, atomic absorption spectrometry has been used most widely, particularly with electrothermal and atomization approaches.
痕量金属在生物过程中起着重要作用，既是必需成分又是毒素。因此，监测痕量金属的身体状况已成为许多临床、工业和政府实验室的一项重要功能。某些必需痕量金属的缺乏偶尔可见，但最重要的是由环境、职业、意外或医源性接触导致的金属中毒领域。关于哪种标本最能反映身体状况仍然存在主要问题，在这方面每种金属都有不同的要求。血液使用最为广泛，尿液有一些应用，头发也可以使用，尽管外部污染是一个始终存在的问题。组织是迄今为止最好的标本，但不容易获得。采集和处理过程中标本的污染必须得到控制。在现有的仪器技术中，原子吸收光谱法应用最为广泛，尤其是电热和雾化方法。
