Gadolinium-based contrast agents: A clinically significant analytical interference in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry elemental analysis

Background Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have been used in magnetic resonance imaging for the past 30 years, where they have significantly improved the effectiveness of imaging studies. However, the increased usage of gadolinium in the medical community has also resulted in unexpected interferences in other laboratory assays. This has been particularly the case in clinical elemental analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Methods By conducting ICP-MS interference experiments, we describe how gadolinium interferes with elemental analysis by space charge effect, double charge effect and the creation of polyatomic interferences. Additionally, by reviewing more than a year of reference laboratory data from our laboratory information system, we determined the number of elemental tests cancelled due to gadolinium interference. Results Interference experiments show that gadolinium normally found in GBCAs can interfere with heavy metals, platinum and selenium analysis of biological fluids using ICP-MS. Within one year, our institution's metals laboratory had to cancel 42 selenium serum tests and 19 heavy metal urine panels due to potential interference caused by gadolinium. Conclusions GBCAs will continue to be utilized in hospitals around the world. However, clinical laboratories should be wary of potential interferences caused by GBCAs. Relevant interferences include space charge effect, double charge interference, and the formation of polyatomic interferences caused by gadolinium. These interferences can negatively affect patient care by resulting in cancelled laboratory tests and causing patients to have blood redrawn and analysed at a later date leading to delays in their diagnosis/treatment.