Determination of copper in biological samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and application in hepatolenticular degeneration diagnosing

ObjectiveTo establish a new method for determination of trace copper in biological samples of hepatolenticular degeneration patients by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). MethodsUrine and serum samples were diluted by 1% HNOsub3/sub, then the determination was directly performed with the standard curve method by GFAAS. ResultsThe linear range was 0-200 g/L, the correlation coefficient was 0.9997, and the determination limit was 1.4 g/L, the recovery rate was 96.7%-99.2%, the relative standard deviation was 1.0%-1.7%. In comparison with the determination in freeze dried urine reference material (GBW 09102), the result by this method was in permit range, the relative error (In/I=6) was -1.2%. ConclusionGFAAS is quick, reliable, accurate and sensitive, which is suitable for the determination of trace copper in biological samples for hepatolenticular degeneration diagnosing.