RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clusters of biomarkers in exhaled breath detected by differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS) JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP p4042 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Becher, Gunther A1 Purkhart, Roman A1 Hillmann, Anne A1 Graupner, Rolf A1 Marke, Swen A1 Steinhaeusser, Werner A1 Scharff, Wolfram YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4042.abstract AB Introduction: Non invasive biomarkers from exhaled breath became high interest. The ion mobility spectrometry has better sensitivity and differentiation of volatile compounds then gas-chromatography. The high sensitivity of the method brings a couple of problems due to VOC's from ambient air and environment.Methods: The aim of the study was to demonstrate standardized sampling, reproducibility and the discrimination of groups of volunteers by exhaled markers. The calculation of spectra and statistical discrimination was performed using a statistic program based on a Support-Vector Machine.For the investigation were included 57 volunteers, whose were recruited from two completely different environmental-occupational ambient air conditions.Results: There were collected repetitive samples on one day and within one week for each. Similar tests were performed on ambient air.It was possible to demonstrate significant differences in spectra of volunteers. It was possible to differentiate clusters from human biomarkers from the clusters which represent VOC's from ambient air. Subgroups, e.g. sex, BMI, smoking, were possible to discriminate without disturbance from ambient conditions.Discussion: The DMS is suitable for the detection of VOCs in exhaled breath even in different environmental conditions. The fingerprints (clusters) in each measurement are characteristic for the individuals, groups and highly reproducible. Specific VOC's from ambient are can be mostly excluded from patients markers. The ion mobility spectrometry may be a sufficient method for non-invasive detection of disease markers in breath.Supported by a Grant of the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology: EURONORM. Germany