Are freeze drying and oven drying methods for trace metal determination in zoological specimens analytically sound

High specific activity radio-isotopes of chromium, zinc and selenium were used to label these elements accumulated by the oyster Crassostrea gigas. The retention of the metabolised forms of these elements during freeze-drying or oven drying at 50, 90, 105 and 120 deg C was studied. Observed losses question the accuracy of these analytical procedures. (author)