Exhaled nitric oxide in mylar balloons: influence of storage time, humidity and temperature.
BACKGROUND
Mylar balloons are used to collect exhaled air for analysis of fractional nitric oxide concentration (FENO).


OBJECTIVE
We studied the effect of storage conditions on the stability of nitric oxide (NO) in mylar balloons.


METHODS
Exhaled air samples and calibration gases were stored in mylar balloons at 4, 21 and 37 degrees C, with or without silica gel. NO was measured after 0, 6, 9, 24 and 48 h. Scheffe F-tests were used to compare NO values.


RESULTS
NO remained stable in balloons for 9 h at all temperatures, without silica gel. NO increased between 9 and 48 h, but only with low initial FENO. Silica gel increased variability.


CONCLUSIONS
FENO in mylar balloons is stable for at least 9 h. The storage temperature is not critical, but silica gel increases variability.
Department of Pediatrics/Respiratory Medicine Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam/Sophia Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Alessandro
A
Bodini
Mariëlle W H
MW
Pijnenburg
Atillio L
AL
Boner
Johan C
JC
de Jongste
D001944:Breath Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D009569:Nitric Oxide