Towards point of care testing for C. difficile infection by volatile profiling, using the combination of a short multi-capillary gas chromatography column with metal oxide sensor detection

Vaughan, K.; Probert, C. S.J.; Garner, C. E.; McGuire, Natasha D.; Ewen, R. J.; de Lacy Costello, Ben; Ratcliffe, Norman M.

Abstract

Rapid volatile profiling of stool sample headspace was achieved using a combination of short multi-capillary chromatography column (SMCC), highly sensitive heated metal oxide semiconductor sensor and artificial neural network software. For direct analysis of biological samples this prototype offers alternatives to conventional gas chromatography (GC) detectors and electronic nose technology. The performance was compared to an identical instrument incorporating a long single capillary column (LSCC). The ability of the prototypes to separate complex mixtures was assessed using gas standards and homogenized in house 'standard' stool samples, with both capable of detecting more than 24 peaks per sample. The elution time was considerably faster with the SMCC resulting in a run time of 10min compared to 30min for the LSCC. The diagnostic potential of the prototypes was assessed using 50 C. difficile positive and 50 negative samples. The prototypes demonstrated similar capability of discriminating between positive and negative samples with sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 80% respectively. C. difficile is an important cause of hospital acquired diarrhoea, with significant morbidity and mortality around the world. A device capable of rapidly diagnosing the disease at the point of care would reduce cases, deaths and financial burden. © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Journal: Measurement Science and Technology
• Print ISSN: 0957-0233
• Electronic ISSN: 1361-6501
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/25/6/065108
• Keywords: sensor, gas chromatography, metal oxide, C.difficile
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/816878
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/25/6/065108