Trace-element analysis by charged-particle-induced reactions as a tool for physicians and chemists

The object of this article is to apprise physicians and chemists of nuclear analytical techniques and, in particular, of ion beam analysis (PIXE and PIGE) for the purpose of application to the clinical diagnostic method. The feasibility of the technique, sampling, and sample preparation for trace element analysis in biological and biomedical samples has been described previously (1–3). Analysis data from normal human blood samples and biomedical samples by ion beam reactions have been compared at the end. Emphasis will be placed on the use of the analytical technique on determination of the range of trace and toxic elements in human blood samples.     

External-beam methods in biomedical work

The useability of external-beam proton-induced X-ray (PIXE) and gamma-ray (PIGE) emission, backscattering spectrometry (BS), and the particle-particle method in biomedical work is demonstrated. Detection limit values obtainable by the methods for typical biomedical samples under practical conditions are given and compared. Advantages, drawbacks, and restrictions of the methods are discussed. Examples of the applications of the methods in biomedical work are given.