Abstract We report the use of a 20 MV tandem Van de Graaff accelerator and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to measure the distribution and uptake mechanisms of 26 Al in vivo in mice. The influence of antibodies against the transferrin receptor and of hypotransferrinaemia (mice with virtual absence of circulating transferrin) were studied with regard to the uptake of 26 Al from infusion with aluminium citrate. In both hypotransferrinaemic and antibody-treated mice, uptake of 26 Al was similar to control values in all tissues except spleen and muscle for the antibody-treated mice and bone for the hypotransferrinaemic mice. It appears that non-transferrin mediated transport of aluminium can occur into tissues and that transport of the metal bound to citrate and other low molecular weight complexes may be important. Generally, the uptake of aluminium into control tissue follows the order bone (femur) > renal cortex > skeletal muscle ≈ liver > spleen > brain. Comparisons with the uptake and distribution of the radiotracer analogue of aluminium, (Ga-67) were made.