Test of a device solving the interface issues between tenax tubes and a gas sensor array in an exhaled breath analysis context

摘要

Tenax tubes are also used for exhaled breath sampling. Hence, their preconcentration ability is strategic to detect disease biomarkers down to ppt. Moreover Tenax tubes are also easy to be delivered and stored, thus increasing reproducibility and standardization of the sample collection method. Many studies on breath analysis are currently being performed with non-selective gas sensor arrays (dubbed electronic nose). Tenax tubes are commonly used with traditional instruments of analytical chemistry. This study proposes a desorbing unit for tenax tubes to be used with a gas sensors array, in order to gain reproducibility and lower limits of detection for this novel technique. Here this device is tested and validated on a limited number of breath samples from asthma patients.