Micro Analysis for Lead in Blood with Built-in Contamination Control

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Abstract
A built-in check for false positives for the determination of lead in microliter blood specimens is available through the quantitative measurement of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), a metabolite that is closely and directly correlated with the lead content of blood. The measurement of FEP, which is not an environmental contaminant, can thus serve as a check on the validity of findings of high lead content. The paper-in-a-cup system for the collection and atomic absorption determination of lead on finger-prick blood specimens lends itself readily to the determination of FEP, since spots collected on the filter paper can also be analyzed for FEP. Such analyses, limited only to blood specimens showing high lead values, have helped considerably in eliminating the false positives due to contamination, and permit reliance on blood lead determinations wth a high degree of confidence.

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