ICP-MS
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry - the gold-standard method for heavy-metal testing.
ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) is the gold-standard instrument for heavy metals and elemental analysis, detecting elements down to parts-per-billion. It measures many elements in a single run.
The older alternative, AAS (atomic absorption), tests one element at a time and is cheaper per element but slower for a full panel. When a lab quotes a heavy-metals panel, confirm it's run by ICP-MS - it's what USP <2232> compliance expects.
Related terms
Guides that cover ICP-MS
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