Quantification of serum seleium by a polarized Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer

Selenium concentration in blood serum was determined by a polarized Zeeman atomic absortion sepctrophotometer. Ten μl of a sample solution (5×dilution of serum, with 0.1g/dl rhodium nitrate and 0.25% Triton X 100) was pipetted into a pyrolytic carbon-coated graphite cuvette. Between-day coefficient of varriation for the means of quadruple assays on a normal serum (selenium 7.17μg/dl) was 7.7% (n＝10). Normal calues for adults (24 males and 26 females) were 8.40±1/92μg/dl (mean±standard deviation).