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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Fast and Accurate Exhaled Breath Ammonia Measurement
Published on: June 11, 2014
Measurement of acetaldehyde in exhaled breath using a laser absorption spectrometer
Pratyuma C Kamat1, Chad B Roller, Khosrow Namjou
1Ekips Technologies, Incorporated, Norman, Oklahoma 73069, USA.
Abstract:
A high-resolution liquid-nitrogen-free mid-infrared tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) system was used to perform real-time measurement of acetaldehyde concentrations in human exhaled breath following ingestion of an alcoholic beverage. Acetaldehyde absorption features were measured near 5.79 mum (1727 cm(-1)) using a IV-VI semiconductor laser, a 100 m long path optical gas cell, and second- harmonic detection coupled with wavelength modulation. Acetaldehyde levels were measured with a minimum detection limit of 80 ppb for 5 s integration time. The variations in exhaled acetaldehyde levels over time were analyzed prior to and following ingestion of two different amounts of white wine. A method to calibrate acetaldehyde measurements internally using water vapor absorption lines was investigated to eliminate the need for system calibration with gas standards. The potential of a TDLAS system to be used as a noninvasive clinical tool for measurements of large volatile compounds with possible applications in cancer detection is demonstrated.
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