The suitability of the iliac crest biopsy in the element analysis of bone and marrow.

Bone samples from the iliac crest were taken from 20 subjects and the content of some trace elements (iron, zinc, selenium, cobalt, strontium, aluminium, scandium, rubidium and fluorine) and of the matrix elements calcium, phosphorus and sodium was determined. The samples were taken in accordance with Burkhardt's method, which is often used in hospital for bone biopsies. The sources of errors occurring during the analysis of trace elements using this clinical procedure and the contamination of the samples by blood and the surrounding tissue are discussed. In-vivo activation analysis is also discussed as an alternative method of element analysis of the skeleton.