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Methodological Issues of Sample Collection and Analysis of Exhaled Breath
Citation:
Amann, A., W. Miekisch, J. D. PLEIL, T. Risby, AND J. Schubert. Methodological Issues of Sample Collection and Analysis of Exhaled Breath. Chapter 7, Maney Publishing, Leeds, Uk, 49:96-114, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD′s research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA′s strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Recommended standardized procedures have been developed for measurement of exhaled lower respiratory nitric oxide (NO) and nasal NO. It would be desirable to develop similar guidelines for the sampling of exhaled breath related to other compounds. For such systemic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), CO2-controlled sampling is recommended to assure reliable and consistent sample quality for within- and between subject comparisons. There are two basic approaches for analyzing VOCs in breath: real-time analysis and off-line laboratory analysis, each with its particular advantages. Real-time analysis of exhaled breath is most promising for reactive compounds and for compounds that change rapidly as a function of external influence. Off-line laboratory analysis of exhaled breath generally employs some form of pre-concentration of analytes followed by a separation step using high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS)-based detection. GCMS gives the most detailed and specific results for identifying the VOCs contained in breath, but the processes of sample storage, pre-concentration, injection and chromatographic separation may limit the detection of reactive or thermally labile metabolites. This chapter discusses the state-of-the-art analyses of exhaled breath for clinical/medical applications, presents current concerns about methods, implementation for different instruments and techniques, and provides specific guidance for standardization to introduce noninvasive breath-based technology into clinical practice.
URLs/Downloads:
European Respiratory Monograph
Methodological Issues of Sample Collection and Analysis of Exhaled Breath (PDF, NA pp, 10015 KB, about PDF)