A screening method for the evaluation of selenium status.

A screening test for the estimation of the Se content in whole blood was developed. Blood was administered on to filter paper, dried at room temperature and circles of 28 mm circumference cut out. The blood volume corresponding to the stained circle amounted to 17.0 +/- 1.4 microL. The Se content was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry + hydride generation technique after stepwise digestion of the blood stained filter papers. Precision (within-run 6.3%) and recovery rate (102%) were good. The screening test was used for samples from Magnesia, an area on the east coast of Greece, and Ningxia, a rural area in northeast China. The blood Se content was significantly lower in Greek mothers after birth than in Chinese mothers. Greek newborns had higher blood Se than their mothers. Greek infants showed a drastic decline in the blood Se values within the airst 4 months of life. The screening method showed good practicability in testing the blood Se content in samples from different areas of the world.