Water interference in the chromatographic analysis of exhaled breath samples: Challenges and mitigation strategies

This study demonstrates the adverse effects of water in exhaled breath samples on the accuracy of breath biomarker analysis when using gas chromatography. The presence of water in exhaled breath significantly modifies the retention times and peak areas of compounds, particularly for low-boiling, early eluting compounds. To tackle this issue, a two-step approach is introduced. The process begins with thorough desorption of the sorbent tube using a high split ratio and a short analysis duration, followed by a secondary analysis of the same tube. The efficacy of the new, straightforward approach was illustrated using humid breath samples and 57 compound standard mixture. This study highlights the importance of proper sample pretreatment and analysis to ensure reliable and accurate results in clinical research.