Analytical Applications of Clinical and Toxicological Relevance

The chromatographic modes typically used in speciation analysis are size-exclusion, ion-exchange, ion-pair reversed-phase, reversed-phase and, to a lesser extent, micellar, vesicular, chiral and affinity LC. Detailed descriptions of their capabilities and limitations can be found in a number of comprehensive reviews.i 2,9-ii,i4 

Finally, it should be noted that, when coupling ICP-MS with LC, factors such as the separation mechanism, composition and flow of the mobile phase and type of nebulizer and sample introduction device must be carefully considered and have consequently been topics 

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Plasma is the main biological sample used in clinical and toxicological analysis, as concentrations found in this matrix are correlated to the pharmacological effect, as well as to the side and toxic effects. However, oral fluid has also been employed in some specific applications because of the advantages associated to this alternative specimen easy, painless, and noninvasive collection, which does not require qualified personnel, it represents the free analyte fraction, and it has a window of detection similar to that in plasma. Within the possible applications of oral fluid analysis, two are of special relevance ... 

In this chapter, the toxicologically and clinically relevant applications of liquid chromatography (LC) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) detection are reviewed (a list of abbreviations used is given at the end of this chapter). After brief characterization of the analytical system, the speciation of arsenic, iodine, mercury, selenium and platinum is discussed. 

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