Whole blood and serum copper levels in relation to sex and age.

The copper content in whole blood and serum was determined in healthy human subjects (240 males and 217 females) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean level of copper obtained in whole blood was 104.8 +/- 20.5 micrograms/100 ml in males and 117.1 +/- 20.1 micrograms/100 ml in females. The mean level of copper in serum was 102.3 +/- 21.7 micrograms/100 ml and 123.9 +/- 30.4 micrograms/100 ml, in males and females respectively. The copper concentration in whole blood and serum in females proved to be significantly higher than in males (p less than 0.001). With respect to age, the copper level showed a slightly negative correlation which is only statistically significant in whole blood in females (p less than 0.05).