Clinical Chemistry
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Clinical Chemistry 19: 472-475, 1973;
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Clinical Chemistry, Vol 19, 472-475, Copyright © 1973 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Trace-Element Contamination in Biopsies of the Liver

J. Versieck 1, A. Speecke 1, J. Hoste 1, and F. Barbier 1

1 From the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Akademisch Ziekenhuis, De Pintelaan, 135, B-9000 Ghent (J. V. and F. B.); and the Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Proeftuinstraat, 86, B-9000, Ghent (A. S. and J. H.), State University of Ghent, Belgium.

Contamination by trace elements during collection of liver biopsies has been investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Menghini needles for percutaneous liver biopsy and disposable surgical blades were irradiated in a nuclear reactor until their constituents had a high specific activity. Sampling of liver biopsies was simulated in vitro with use of the irradiated instruments. Under these experimental conditions, radioactivity found in the samples corresponds to contaminations as may be expected in clinical practice. The results demonstrate that needle biopsies are heavily contaminated by numerous trace elements and unsuitable for trace-element analysis. Liver biopsies taken during laparotomy, with a steel surgical blade, are markedly less contaminated but still not acceptable for determinations of some trace elements, especially chromium and nickel.


Key Words: radioactivity used as index of trace-metal contamination • trace-metal contamination of tissues by instruments

Submitted on December 4, 1972
Accepted on February 13, 1973






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Copyright © 1973 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.