Laboratory Experience with In Situ Detection of Beryllium in Biological Specimens

Abstract

Suitable microspectrochemical techniques have been devised for the laser microprobe made by the Jarrell—Ash Co. to detect beryllium in histologic structures. Density and type of tissue, thickness of the specimen, character of the embedding medium, concentration and localization of the element, and the penetrability of the laser beam must be considered in preparing biological specimens for chemical analysis by the microspectrochemical technique. Advantages of this technique are the identification of specific elements in situ and the correlation of the presence of the element with a specific histologic structure.