Determination of Magnesium in Blood Serum by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Abstract

THE present lack of detailed knowledge of the function of magnesium in the human body is due partly to the lack of rapid and reliable methods for its routine estimation in small quantities of biological materials. Recently, Hunter¹ has devised a method for determining calcium and magnesium in blood serum by titration with murexide and with ‘Eriochrome T’. It uses only 0.2 ml. of serum, but has the disadvantage of requiring prior removal of protein by coagulation or ashing, and even then the magnesium is estimated indirectly by the difference of the two titrations. Methods for determining magnesium directly normally require removal of calcium also^2–4. The flame photometer method of Davis⁵ requires removal of protein followed by precipitation of the magnesium by 8-hydroxyquinoline.