title: Residual gravimetric method to measure nebulizer output.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess a residual gravimetric method based on weighing dry filters to measure the aerosol output of nebulizers. This residual gravimetric method was compared to assay methods based on spectrophotometric measurement of terbutaline (Bricanyl, Astra Zeneca, France), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurement of tobramycin (Tobi, Chiron, U.S.A.), and electrochemical measurements of NaF (as defined by the European standard). Two breath-enhanced jet nebulizers, one standard jet nebulizer, and one ultrasonic nebulizer were tested. Output produced by the residual gravimetric method was calculated by weighing the filters both before and after aerosol collection and by filter drying corrected by the proportion of drug contained in total solute mass. Output produced by the electrochemical, spectrophotometric, and HPLC methods was determined after assaying the drug extraction filter. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the residual gravimetric method (x axis) and assay methods (y axis) in terms of drug mass output (y = 1.00 x -0.02, r(2) = 0.99, n = 27). We conclude that a residual gravimetric method based on dry filters, when validated for a particular agent, is an accurate way of measuring aerosol output.
authors.affiliation: INSERM EMI-U 00-10, Groupe de Pneumologie et Imagerie de Ciblage, CHU Bretonneau, 37044 Tours Cedex, France. vecellio@med.univ-tours.fr
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vecellio None
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grimbert
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bordenave
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furet
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fauroux
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boissinot
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Monte
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lemarié
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diot
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D013726:Terbutaline; D014031:Tobramycin