Determination of zinc fractions in human blood and seminal plasma by ultrafiltration and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

A simple and reliable method is described which combines ultrafiltration technique with atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the Zn fractions in human blood plasma and seminal plasma. Ultrafiltrable, loosely bound, and firmly bound Zn can be measured using this method in the presence or absence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The YMT membranes for the ultrafiltration must be rinsed thoroughly before use. In contrast to Zn in blood plasma, a large part of Zn in the seminal plasma was found to be ultrafiltrable. This method can be applied to study the physiologically active part of Zn in body fluids related to various disease states.