Abstract
There has been rapidly accelerating interest in the utilization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as non-invasive methods for rapid point-of-care medical diagnostics. There is widespread variation in analytical methods and protocols, with little understanding of the effects of sample storage on VOC profiles. This study aimed to determine the effects on VOC profiles of different storage times, at room temperature, prior to freezing, of sealed urine samples from healthy individuals. Analysis using Field Asymmetric Ion Motility Spectrometry (FAIMS) determined the alterations in VOC and total ion count profiles as a result of increasing room temperature storage times. Results indicated that increasing exposure time to room temperature prior to freezing had a threefold effect. Firstly, increased urinary VOC profile variability, with a plateau phase between 12 and 48 hours, before further degradation. Secondly, an increase in total ion count with time exposed to room temperature. Finally, a deterioration in VOCs with each sample run during the analysis process. This provides new insight into the effect of storage of urine samples for VOC analysis using FAIMS technology. Results of this study provide a recommendation for a 12-hour maximum duration at room temperature prior to storage.
Highlights
The last decade has seen a rapid expanse of research into the utilisation of gaseous phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as biomarkers of disease across a range of medical domains [1]
This has led to the VOC analysis of almost all types of biological sample that can be extracted from the body, with breath, urine, faeces, sweat and blood being the most common mediums
This study has demonstrated two clear patterns of change in urine samples analysed for VOCs, namely intra-individual variation over time and inter-individual variation with repeated analysis
Summary
The last decade has seen a rapid expanse of research into the utilisation of gaseous phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as biomarkers of disease across a range of medical domains [1] Interest in this field has risen due to several advantages, including its low test cost, ease of use and mobility, potentially allowing point of care disease detection [2,3,4,5,6]. This has led to the VOC analysis of almost all types of biological sample that can be extracted from the body, with breath, urine, faeces, sweat and blood being the most common mediums. If urine VOC diagnostics is going to transcend the clinical environment, sample collection and storage must balance VOC stability with practicality for the patient and healthcare setting
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