An ORS-ICP-MS method for monitoring trace levels of cobalt and chromium in whole blood samples from hip arthroplasty patients with metal-on-metal prostheses

ObjectiveTo develop a rapid and reliable method, using an octopole reaction system (ORS) ICP-MS, capable of monitoring trace levels of Co and Cr in whole blood samples from hip arthroplasty patients with metal-on-metal prostheses.Design and methodWhole blood is diluted 10-fold with an alkaline diluent and analyzed using an Agilent 7500 CE ORS-ICP-MS.ResultsLimit of quantification of 0.03 μg/L Co and 0.20 μg/L Cr in patient samples. < 6% covariance obtained for quality control materials analyzed over 10 runs.ConclusionThis method is capable of monitoring trace levels of Co and Cr in diluted whole blood samples with a vial to vial run time of approximately 2 min. Results are comparable to those obtained using high resolution (HR) ICP-MS with sample digestion.

► Rapid, stable, low-maintenance ORS-ICP-MS method for Cr and Co in whole blood.
► Applied to metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty patient samples.
► Eliminated sample digestion step and costly HR-ICP-MS often used in other methods.
► Limit of quantification of 0.03 μg/L Co and 0.20 μg/L Cr.
► ORS-ICP-MS and HR-ICP-MS results were comparable.