Evaluation of a standardized collection device for exhaled breath sampling onto thermal desorption tubes

The Respiration Collector for In Vitro Analysis (ReCIVA) sampler, marketed by Owlstone Medical, provides a step forward in exhaled breath sampling through active sampling directly onto thermal desorption (TD) tubes. Although an improvement to the issues surrounding breath bag sampling, the ReCIVA device, first released in 2015, is a relatively new research and clinical tool that requires further exploration. Here, data are presented comparing two distinct ReCIVA devices. The results, comparing ReCIVA serial numbers #33 and #65, demonstrate that overall statistically insignificant results are obtained via targeted isoprene quantitation (p > 0.05). However, when the data are parsed by the TD tube type used to capture breath volatiles, either Tenax TA or the dual bed Tenax/Carbograph 5TD (5TD), a statistical difference (p < 0.05) among the two different TD tubes was present. These data, comparing the two ReCIVA devices with both Tenax TA and 5TD tubes, are further supported by a global metabolomics analysis yielding 85% of z-scores, comparing ReCIVA devices, below the limit for significance. Experiments to determine the effect of breathing rate on ReCIVA function, using guided breathing for low (7.5 breaths min−1) and high (15 breaths min−1) breathing rates, demonstrate the ReCIVA device shows no statistical difference among breathing rates for quantitated isoprene (p > 0.05). Global metabolomics analysis of the guided breathing rate data shows more than 87% of the z-scores, comparing high and low breathing rates using both the Tenax and the 5TD tubes, are below the level for significance. Finally, data are provided from a single participant who displayed background levels of isoprene while illustrating levels of acetone consistent with the remaining participants. Collectively, these data support the use of multiple ReCIVA devices for exhaled breath collection and provide evidence for an instance where exhaled isoprene is consistent with background levels.