The rapid determination of total bromine and iodine in biological fluids by neutron activation.

Total bromine and iodine are instrumentally determined in 1 mL samples of body fluids by neutron activation under a boron shield at normal concentration levels. No sample treatment is necessary. Bromine is determined by its 80Br nuclide (617.0 keV; T1/2 = 18.0 min) and iodine by its 128I nuclide (442.7 keV;T1/2 = 25.0 min). The method is rapid; four bromine and two iodine determinations can be done in one hour. Bromine and iodine can be detected down to 14 micrograms/dL (1.75 mumol/L) and 2.9 micrograms/dL (0.23 mumol/L), respectively.