Neutron activation analysis for copperinbiological material applied toWilson's disease

SYNOPSISAmethod fortheneutronactivation analysis ofcopperinbiological material isdescribed andapplied tothediagnosis andmanagementoffour casesofWilson's disease. Results obtained for serumandurine areinagreement withvalues obtained byestablished colorimetric techniques. The methoddescribed can estimate 10-9 g.coppertowithin 100% andthis sensitivity hasallowed the determination ofcopperfrombiopsy material such asliver, spleen, hair, andnail. Radioactivation analysis isamoderntechnique of elemental analysis, widely applicable tothedetermination oftrace elements inavariety ofmaterials. Theanalysis requires irradiation ofsamples ina nuclear reactor toinduce radioactivity intheelementspresent. Thereafter aradiochemical separation isolates thecopperactivity fromthemixture of radioactive elements. Theestimation ofcopperis achieved bycomparison ofthecopperactivity of thesamples withthat ofastandard sample containingaknownweight ofcopper. Theadvantages ofthetechnique aresensitivity, simplicity, andspecificity which caneasily bedemonstrated foreverysample byexamination ofthe characteristics oftheradioactivity oftheisolated material. ISOTOPEUSED