A portable Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) multicomponent point-of-care analyzer was tested for the diagnosis of methanol intoxications. Breath analysis with FT-IR was fast and easy, and no sample preparation was needed. The analyzer was adequately sensitive and accurate in detecting and quantitating clinically relevant amounts of ethanol and methanol in the breath of seriously ill patients. FT-IR spectrometry was also suitable for nearly on-line monitoring of the exhaled ethanol and methanol during hemodialysis. The breath analysis results correlated well with blood samples. The FT-IR method used also has a traceable calibration to physical properties of the analyte, and the measured spectra can be saved for later analysis.
Instrumental resolution has a significant effect on the performance of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometers used for gasphase analysis. Low-resolution FT-IR spectroscopy offers some valuable advantages compared with the traditional high-resolution FT-IR gas-phase spectroscopy, especially in nonlaboratory environments. First, high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) spectra can be acquired in field conditions without the use of traditional liquid nitrogen-cooled detectors. Second, the dynamic range for quantitative analysis is larger for low-resolution spectroscopy than for high-resolution due to the lower absorbance values and lower noise levels. Third, spectral analysis speed is increased and data storage requirements are substantially reduced. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of instrumental resolution on FT-IR gas-phase analysis. The effects of spectral resolution on sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, spectral overlap, dynamic range, and nonlinearity are separately discussed.
Fast and reliable diagnostic methods are needed for detection or exclusion of industrial solvents as a cause of intoxication. Analyzing human breath reveals the presence of any volatile substance. A portable Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) multicomponent point-of-care analyzer was developed for exhaled breath. The analyzer proved to be accurate and precise in laboratory tests for simultaneous measurement of methanol and ethanol in water. Ethanol, in addition to normal contents of breath, was simultaneously analyzed in human experiments, and the results correlated well with blood samples. FT-IR method has a traceable calibration to physical properties of the analyte. The measured spectra can also be saved and analyzed later. Breath analysis with FT-IR is fast and easy, and no preparation of the sample is needed.
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