Research Progress of Determination of Heavy Metal and Other Elements in Drugs by ICP-MS

The content control of heavy metal and other elements had always been a problem that needed attention in the production process of drug, and it was also an important issue of drug safety. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for element analysis, the operation was relatively simple, and it had the advantages of low detection limit, wide linear range, simultaneous determination of multiple elements, fast analysis, high accuracy, and good sensitivity. After China joined the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), the control of element limits in drugs was also be in line with international standards, so it was especially important to adopt effective detection methods. Research progress of determination of heavy metal and other elements in Chinese crude drug, Chinese patent medicines, and chemical medicines in recent years by ICP-MS was reviewed. The source control and sample pretreatment methods of heavy metal and other elements in drugs were introduced, and the development of ICP-MS in this field was prospected (51 ref. cited).