New techniques and tools for clinical chemistry.

In this paper are described and evaluated several new tools of potential use in clinical chemistry. The first, intended to minimize required sample volumes, is a device with which a total sample volume of 1 microL can be dispensed in the form of 1000 identical aliquots. Any number of such nanoliter aliquots can be taken if larger samples are needed. The second new tool is one for detecting anions or cations separated by ion chromatography. Unlike conventional conductometric detectors used in ion chromatography, the new system offers potential sensitivities in the sub-microgram per liter range and useful operating ranges up to 100 mg/L. The third tool is a scheme for background correction in atomic absorption spectrometry; the new technique requires no special auxiliary sources or double-beam optics. Finally, fluorescence time-decay curves and fluorescence lifetimes are shown to be able to overcome the effects of diffusional quenching and scattering resulting from turbidity of solutions in clinical fluorometry.