High resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry allows rapid assessment of iron absorption in infants and children.

Stable isotope absorption studies of iron have been limited by the high cost and limited availability of isotope ratio analysis using thermal ionization MS (TIMS). The development of high-resolution double focusing inductively coupled plasma MS (ICP-MS) may permit more cost-efficient sample analysis due to its high throughput, lower cost, easy sample pretreatment, and greater availability. Our objective was to develop an ICP-MS methodology for the measurement of iron isotope ratios using very small blood volumes.