The second edition of IZiNCG Practical Tips: Collecting blood in the field for assessment of plasma or serum zinc concentration is now available on our website.
The document briefly covers the following topics:
Precautions to prevent transmission of infectious agents when handling blood samples
Practices and supplies to avoid zinc contamination of samples
Tips for blood collection technique
Tips for processing samples
Tips for aliquoting of samples in the field laboratory
Tips for sample analyses
Information on reference laboratories
Tips for statistical analyses
List of trace element-free blood collection supplies
Image examples of field laboratory hoods
Example laboratory protocols for the analysis of plasma/serum zinc by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)
Please contact IZiNCG with any questions or comments regarding this brief.