Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2003 Biological markers in nasal secretions1 Depts of Otorhinolaryngology and 2 Clinical Chemistry, University of Ulm, Medical School, Prittwitzstr 43, 89075 Ulm, Germany CORRESPONDENCE: H. Riechelmann, University of Ulm, Medical School, Prittwitzstr 43, 89075 Ulm, Germany. Fax: 49 7315026703. E-mail: herbert.riechelmann@medizin.uni-ulm.de Keywords: biological factors, body fluids, immunological, nasal cavity, nasal lavage fluid, specimen handling
Received: August 8, 2002
This research was supported by a grant from the State of Baden-Württemberg, BWPLUS L98 002, Germany.
Biological markers in nasal secretions provide valuable information on nasal pathophysiology. However, published data on biomarker concentrations in nasal fluids are remarkably inconsistent, and the bias due to different sampling techniques, has not yet been systematically evaluated.
Concentrations of various protein were repeatedly determined in nasal secretions of 16 healthy volunteers. The proteins were detected by using: 1)
Analyte concentrations in NL were approximately10-times lower than in specimens obtained by PFST. Due to the unpredictable dilution during NL, various analytes were below the detection limit of the high sensitivity assays employed. With PFST, concentrations below the detection limit rarely occurred. The specimens did not significantly differ regarding plasma contamination, glandular secretion or tissue injury.
The considerable variability of reported analyte concentrations in nasal secretions mainly results from different sampling techniques. To collect nasal secretions, samplers are considered superior to nasal lavage techniques.
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