Use of nuclear methodology for iron concentration in human blood samples as option for clinical analysis

This works aims to obtain iron (Fe) concentration in whole blood using the Absolute Neutron Activation Analysis technique. The results show the viability of the nuclear methodology for the use in hematological analyses and in studies related to pathological anatomy and clinical pathology that intend to elucidate the metabolism of iron and its determination in living organisms. A discussion involving the advantages and limitations of this nuclear methodology when compared to the conventionally applied methods is also presented. (author)