Depends on what you need to test, IC might work.

Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is a widely used technique for determining a

large number of metals. We use AAS for heavy metals detection (Pb, Cd..) and oligoelements quantitation (Zn, Cu....): however, each element requires a different lamp.

ICP MS is a very powerful tool for trace and ultratrace  elemental analysis and detection limits for most elements equal to or better than those obtained by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS). We utilise ICP-MS for simultaneous multi-elementary metal and metalloid quantification.

regards

stefania

In addition to Stefania's comments ICP OES (ICP AES) shows a great strengh for determining almost all metals of interest in blood analysis with enough LoD for the most common applications.

Electroanalytical techniques such as Anodic stripping voltammetry provide sensitive and affordable alternative methods. Lead determination by ASV can be done in 3 minutes using 50microliters ranging concentrations between 3-65 micrograms/dl  http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/lead_blood.pdf

alkaline metal and alkaline earth, you have more choice to do IC, AA, and flame photometry. Transition metal will need absorption or emission spectrophotometry (AA-ICP). You don't have to pay extra for ICP-MS, unless you need speed , selectivity and sensitivity.

Hi, non conventional method for certain metal or metalloids are simple chemical vapor generation  and analyzed by headspace and  GC-MS it works very well with arsenic antimony, tin lead, mercury.

Depends on metal you need to analyze you can use sodium boro hydride  or sodium tetra ethyl or isopropyl borane and for better sensitivity you can use  SPME .

Another method of analysis for metals is Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

You can build yourself simple instrument and the detection limits for As, Se, Hg are similar to ICP-MS and do not suffer of interferences.

MAX 

I think ICP is the best, but ion chromatography or AAS might be used.

The commonest instrumental method for metal analyses is AAS - Atomic Absorption Spectometer.

ICP-AES (ICP-OES) is an option but not better than ICP-MS. LC-MS is better used for analyzing organic compounds.