Sample Deaeration

Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC) pH is a wonderfully reliable biomarker that is both robust and reproducible after deaeration with Argon gas. Deaeration is a very simple process that may help you with your study design and assays. Measurement of Exhaled Breath Condensate pH is a very simple assay to perform. There are some tried and true techniques that may be of use to you, and we will include these below.

We are currently modifying our pH deaeration plunger and we will soon be offering a deaeration attachment for use with the RTube. As a temporary solution for our customers wanting to deaerate their samples please follow the simple protocol listed below (please contact us if you need more information). We also offer EBC pH testing through our laboratory testing service.

1. You will need a source of carbon dioxide-free gas. We prefer Argon, but oxygen and nitrogen are suitable. You will also need a micro pH probe available here suitable for use in very dilute fluids, a regulator for the tank, tubing and glass pasteur pipettes.
2. Aliquot 150ul of EBC sample in a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube.
3. Attach one end of the tubing to the tank regulator and the other onto the glass pipette.
4. Turn on the Argon flow (very gently).
5. Slowly lower the pipette into sample. Prevent the sample from bubbling out of the microcentrifuge tube by adjusting the flow from the tank until the sample is bubbling at a steady rate. Bubble the sample for ~ 8 minutes and then insert the probe into the sample.
6. After 8 minutes raise the pipette out of the sample insert the micro pH probe into the sample and wait for the sample pH to stabilize.
7. If the pH has not stabilized continue to bubble Argon through the sample for another 5 minutes and measure again.

For more information about EBC Sample Deaeration please visit our Online Library or click the links below:

• Deaeration for EBC pH assay - How?
• Deaeration for EBC pH assay - Why?
• Do you need to deaerate the EBC sample before measuring pH?