Novel hand-held device for exhaled nitric oxide-analysis in research and clinical applications

Changes in expired nitric oxide (NO) occur in airway inflammation and have proved to be important in the monitoring of inflammatory disease processes such as asthma. We set out to develop a novel hand-held NO-analyzer with a performance comparable to the present more costly and complex chemiluminescence instruments. The new device is based on a specially designed electrochemical sensor, where we have developed a novel sampling and analysis technology, compensating for the relatively slow response properties of the electrochemical sensor technique. A Lowest Detection Limit in NO-analysis from reference gas tests of less than 3 ppb and a response time of 15 seconds together with an average precision in human breath measurements of 1.4 ppb were obtained. We also show an agreement with the existing 'gold standard' FENO measurement technique, within 0.5 ppb in a group of 19 subjects together with a high linearity and accuracy compared to reference gases. The new analyzer enables affordable monitoring of inflammatory airway diseases in research and routine clinical practice.