Comparison between ordinary least squares regression and weighted least squares regression in the calibration of metals present in human milk determined by ICP-OES

In this study we compared the use of ordinary least squares and weighted least squares in the calibration of the method for analyzing essential and toxic metals present in human milk by ICP-OES, in order to avoid systematic errors in the measurements used. Human milk samples were provided by maternity clinic Odete Valadares and digested by means of a high-performance microwave (MW) oven. Evaluation of plasma short and long-term stability was made using a solution of digested milk (1:50) with 2.0 mg L−1 Mg in HNO3 2% (v/v). The detection power resulted to be at or below the μg L−1 level, whilst the precision expressed as relative standard deviation R.S.D. was almost always equal to or better than 3.3%. Certified reference material Infant Formula (NIST SRM 1846) was used to assess the accuracy of the proposed method, which proved to be accurate and precise. Recovery rates were in the range of 83–117%. Aqueous calibration was carried out for each element under study.