Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

01 August 2008

Exhaled breath condensate nitrite--methodological problems of sample collection

Ursula RangeC, Volker NeumeisterB

Med Sci Monit 2008; 14(8): CR416-422 :: ID: 865791

Abstract

Background
Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) analysis is a promising new method to monitor airway inflammation, however there are still multiple open methodological questions. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate methodological influences on nitrite in EBC (surface contamination, flow dependency, storage time and inter- and within day variability).
Material and Method
EBC samples of 10 healthy children, 10 healthy adults and 71 asthmatic children were collected and nitrite was analysed using the Griess reaction. Collector devices where either air-dried after disinfection or stored in distilled water till usage. Repeatability measurements were performed at three different times during one day and on five consecutive days. Flow dependency was analysed at 200 and 400 ml/s expiratory flow and storage stability was investigated at several time points within the first three hours after collection of the sample. In a preliminary study EBC nitrite was analysed in asthmatic children of different severity.
Results
Surface contamination appears to have a profound influence on nitrite levels and both within-day and inter-day variability is high. We found no flow dependency, and storage stability was satisfying although with considerable variety in several samples. There were no significant differences between the nitrite levels of the different asthmatic subgroups nor between the asthmatic children and the controls.
Conclusions
These data indicate that EBC nitrite is a substance with a wide variety of influencing factors and different sources of origin. This has to be kept in mind when using exhaled nitrite as a biomarker for airway inflammation.

Keywords: Nitrites - analysis, Exhalation - physiology, Child, Equipment Contamination, Specimen Handling - methods, Reproducibility of Results, Breath Tests, Biological Markers - metabolism

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 April 2025 : Editorial  

Editorial: Rapid Testing for the Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus is Urgently Required as Infections in Poultry and Dairy Cows are on the Rise, and so is Transmission to Humans

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.949109

Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e949109

0:00

In Press

Clinical Research  

Pain and Anxiety Levels During Dental Restorations in Primary Molars: INJEX Needleless System vs Traditiona...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947691  

Clinical Research  

Intradialytic Exercise: Effects on Arterial Stiffness and Gait Speed in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947604  

Clinical Research  

Use of The Mirror-Image Technique for Patient-Specific Reconstruction of Cuboid Fractures

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947437  

Laboratory Research  

Retention of 3-D-Printed, Milled, and Conventionally Fabricated Occlusal Splints

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947342  

Most Viewed Current Articles

17 Jan 2024 : Review article   7,932,754

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research   702,865

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

01 Mar 2024 : Editorial   29,664

Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and ...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.944204

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204

0:00

28 Jan 2024 : Review article   23,642

A Review of IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura) Past, Present, and Future

DOI :10.12659/MSM.943912

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943912

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750