Peter Winship (Presenter)
Teledyne CETAC Technologies
Bio: Based in the United Kingdom, I am the Product Markets Manager at Teledyne CETAC Technologies and also Product Manager for advanced automation systems. One of my key roles is the understanding of the application of trace element analysis across different scientific disciplines with clinical analysis being at the forefront. One of my main interests is in understanding and pushing the limits of trace element analysis.
Authorship: Frederick G. Strathmann (1,2), David Clarke (3), Peter Winship (3), Christian L. Law (4)
(1) Department of Pathology, University of Utah (2) ARUP, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City (3) Teledyne CETAC Technologies (4) ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City
| Short Abstract Particularly in clinical analysis, there is a growing demand for routine trace element quantification from samples of a very low volume. By pairing an advanced automation platform with an appropriate nebulizer/spray chamber it is now simple to reproducibly introduce liquid samples from the low microlitre level (< 5 µL) into the milliliter level to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Such sample introduction technology allows the analyst to work with greater confidence with precious samples and limited volumes with reduced or no compromise as to the analyte suite of interest and the number of replicate measurements. We report on the application of this technology to sample handling/introduction and measurement of trace element analytes, notably platinum, in human blood serum – a routine test in toxicology studies associated with platinum based chemotherapies. |
Long Abstract
Particularly in clinical analysis, there is a growing demand for routine trace element quantification data from samples of a limited and/or very low volume. For example, clinical analytical measurements associated with the following have traditionally been difficult to work with from the point of view of liquid volume/quantity pre- or post-sample preparation:
i) Cell culture work.
ii) Samples taken from the body that have restrictions associated with them (such as the sampling volume of whole blood and blood serum/plasma taken from infants or children).
iii) Samples taken from the body that can only be obtained in limited quantities (such as bone or tissue via biopsy).
Important trace element data can be derived from the above clinical sample examples as well as numerous other types. With traditional sample handling and introduction technology, the analyst may have to compromise as to the desired analyte suite or to number of replicate analyses per sample based upon the limitations that can be posed by volume/quantity. Such compromise in the face of limited sample availability may be detrimental to the quality of analysis (i.e. accuracy and precision) and may only provide partial information for establishing conclusions.
By pairing an advanced automation platform (that is designed for working with limited sample volumes with respect to speed of uptake, liquid flow rates for transfer to a nebuliser and temperature etc…) with an appropriate nebulizer and spray chamber arrangement it is now straight forward to consistently and reproducibly introduce liquid samples from the low microlitre level (< 5 µL) up to the millilitre level to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) instrument. Such sample introduction technology not only allows the analyst to work with greater confidence with precious samples, or samples of limited volume, but also to work with reduced or no compromise as to the breadth of the analyte suite of interest and the number of replicate measurements. This technology also allows a re-design of the standard sample introduction approach to working with small vials (notably 1.4 mL vials used with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems), micro-centrifuge tubes or well plate formats (96 and/or 384) that may be shared with other analytical technologies as part of generating a broader data set for the same sample cohort.
We report on the application of this technology to sample handling, sample introduction and measurement of trace element analytes, notably platinum, in human blood serum – a routine test in toxicology studies associated with platinum based chemotherapies. We show that this new approach to automating sample handling and introduction for ICP-MS is accurate and precise for sample volumes/quantities that are considered challenging and will make trace element analyses even more relevant to the challenges of clinical testing and data generation.
References & Acknowledgements:
| Description | Y/N | Source |
| Grants | no | |
| Salary | yes | Teledyne CETAC Technologies |
| Board Member | no | |
| Stock | no | |
| Expenses | no |
IP Royalty: no
| Planning to mention or discuss specific products or technology of the company(ies) listed above: | yes |