Study of sample collection and preparation methods for multi element analysis in liver tissue by proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE).

Large samples of tissue and biopsy specimen were taken from a single human liver, homogenized or paraffin-embedded, then analyzed by PIXE. Homogenates, including those of biopsies, proved to be suitable for PIXE-analysis of P, S, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Mo, Cd and, to a limited extent, Pb. Paraffin-embedding leads to a distinct elution of K, Rb, Cl and to a lesser elution of P, Zn, Se, Br and Mo. The contents of Ca and Sr, on the other hand, were higher in the paraffin-embedded sections. Sections of paraffin-embedded biopsies proved to be hardly suitable for PIXE-analysis.