[Microanalysis of serum iron by atomatic absorption spectrophotometry in a graphite oven: improvement and evaluation of this method].

We describe a method of micro-assay of serum iron by atomic absorption without flame, after deproteinisation of the serum by molar hydrochloric acid. In this way, we can assay the serum iron in 10 microliters of serum by injection of the supernatant into a graphite oven. The results show a good correlation with those obtained by conventional techniques of atomic absorption and colorimetric assays using ferrozine and bathophenanthroline. However, great care must be taken in the cleaning of plastic test tubes.