Abstract
The influence of the method alveolar aircollection on measurements of trace gas concentrationhas received little attention. We measured theconcentrations of H2, CH4, CO, andCO2 in sequential fractions of alveolar air collected with and withoutbreath-holding. Without breath-holding, theconcentration of these gases increased appreciably asincreasing quantities of alveolar air were expelled.Twenty seconds of breath-holding markedly reduced thisnonhomogeneity of alveolar air. Prediction of theexcretion rate of trace gases from measurements of theirconcentration relative to CO and literature values for resting CO2 excretion underestimatedthe true excretion rate. We conclude that breath-holdingprior to sample collection enhances the reproducibilityof trace gas measurements. When calculating the rate of excretion of trace gases, the use ofliterature values for resting ventilation orCO2 excretion may result in appreciableunderestimations of the true rate.
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Levitt, M.D., Ellis, C. & Furne, J. Influence of Method of Alveolar Air Collection on Results of Breath Tests. Dig Dis Sci 43, 1938–1945 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018874223418
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018874223418