A benchtop TXRF spectrometer from Bruker was successfully applied for urine and blood testing in medical routine and research.
Bruker AXS participated at a round robin test for the detection of trace elements in urine.
The tests were performed with a benchtop TXRF spectrometer, which quantifies elemental concentrations from 0.1ppb to per cent levels.
TXRF was previously limited to bulky lab systems with emphasis to the semiconductor and coatings metrology.
The S2 Picofox TXRF spectrometer was made for the analytical laboratory, enabling TXRF use for clinical, nutritional, environmental and research applications for the first time.
TXRF does not require pre-analytical digestion of the test samples by hazardous chemicals.
In contrast to AAS/ICP instrumentation, the S2 Picofox is suitable for almost all sample types such as liquids, suspensions, filters, particles and body fluids.
Operating without any external gas, water cooling or any other media, the system can detect elements from Al-U and quantify them down to ppb levels.
Sample amounts can be in the nanogram range with the ability to analyse solid samples directly.
Urine tests are challenging due to required detection limits for metals in the low ppb range accompanied by high concentrations of chlorine and potassium.
Samples were measured after addition of an internal standard element without any further preparation.
The Reference Institute for Bioanalytics, Bonn, Germany certified the accurate determination of the elements arsenic, selenium and zinc.
Further tests to increase the number of certified elements are planned.