Skip to main content
Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1968 Jan;21(1):8–11. doi: 10.1136/jcp.21.1.8

Neutron activation analysis for copper in biological material applied to Wilson's disease

G S Fell 1,2, Hamilton Smith 1,2, R A Howie 1,2,1
PMCID: PMC473652  PMID: 5697340

Abstract

A method for the neutron activation analysis of copper in biological material is described and applied to the diagnosis and management of four cases of Wilson's disease. Results obtained for serum and urine are in agreement with values obtained by established colorimetric techniques. The method described can estimate 10−9 g. copper to within 10% and this sensitivity has allowed the determination of copper from biopsy material such as liver, spleen, hair, and nail.

Full text

PDF
11

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BEARN A. G., KUNKEL H. G. Abnormalities of copper metabolism in Wilson's disease and their relationship to the aminoaciduria. J Clin Invest. 1954 Mar;33(3):400–409. doi: 10.1172/JCI102912. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BUTLER E. J., NEWMAN G. E. AN ABSORPTIOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TRACES OF COPPER IN BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS WITH DITHIZONE. Clin Chim Acta. 1965 May;11:452–460. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(65)90193-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. RICE E. W., GOLDSTEIN N. P. Copper content of hair and nails in Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration). Metabolism. 1961 Dec;10:1085–1087. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. ZAK B. Simple procedure for the single sample determination of serum copper and iron. Clin Chim Acta. 1958 Jul;3(4):328–334. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(58)90021-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Pathology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES