Isotope ratio determinations by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry for zinc bioavailability studies

A method is described for the measurement of 67Zn/68Zn and 70Zn/68Zn ratios by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry with ultrasonic nebulization. The method provides sufficient accuracy and precision for zinc bioavailability studies that use samples of human feces or blood plasma. Extraction of zinc from ashed samples yields aqueous solutions sufficiently devoid of matrix ions that could affect count rates and isotope ratios. Effects of sodium matrix, zinc concentration, and instrumental parameters on the precision of isotope ratio determinations are documented. Additions of spikes enriched in 67Zn and 70Zn to natural-abundance fecal samples verify that ratios can be determined on solutions 30 μM in zinc (<300 nmol of zinc per sample) with relative accuracies of <1% and relative standard deviations (r.s.d.) of ≤1% over the range from natural abundance to 370 atom% excess of 70Zn and to 84 atom% excess of 67Zn. (Auth.)