AbstractManganese (Mn) toxicity has been reported in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition. To avoid unnecessary exposure it is recommended by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) that blood Mn concentrations are monitored. The aim of the study was to develop a method using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the reliable determination of Mn in plasma and whole blood, as indices of acute and chronic exposure.Whole blood and plasma samples were prepared by appropriate dilution (diluent containing 0.005% Triton X-100, 0.2% propan-2-ol, 0.2% butan-1-ol and 1% nitric acid) addition of an internal standard gallium, followed by centrifugation to remove cell debris. Thermo Fisher Scientific ExCell and X Series ICP-MS instruments were used to define and correct for polyatomic interference on Mn assay.Mn was quantified at mass 55 using aqueous calibration and the polyatomic interference from FeH was successfully eliminated by modified (Xt) skimmer cones but not with the collision cell (collision gas 7% HA method has been developed using ICP-MS for the analysis of whole blood and plasma Mn incorporating a novel method of eliminating interference by utilizing the different geometries of the Xt interface cones. The procedure is simple and robust with good precision and recovery over a wide dynamic range.