TY - JOUR T1 - Diagnosis of COVID-19 by exhaled breath analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00139-2021 VL - 7 IS - 3 SP - 00139-2021 AU - Wadah Ibrahim AU - Rebecca L. Cordell AU - Michael J. Wilde AU - Matthew Richardson AU - Liesl Carr AU - Ananga Sundari Devi Dasi AU - Beverley Hargadon AU - Robert C. Free AU - Paul S. Monks AU - Christopher E. Brightling AU - Neil J. Greening AU - Salman Siddiqui A2 - , Y1 - 2021/07/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/7/3/00139-2021.abstract N2 - Background The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed over two and a half million lives worldwide so far. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is perceived to be seasonally recurrent, and a rapid noninvasive biomarker to accurately diagnose patients early on in their disease course will be necessary to meet the operational demands for COVID-19 control in the coming years.Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of exhaled breath volatile biomarkers in identifying patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection, based on their underlying PCR status and clinical probability.Methods A prospective, real-world, observational study was carried out, recruiting adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. Breath samples were collected using a standard breath collection bag, modified with appropriate filters to comply with local infection control recommendations, and samples were analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS).Results 81 patients were recruited between April 29 and July 10, 2020, of whom 52 out of 81 (64%) tested positive for COVID-19 by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A regression analysis identified a set of seven exhaled breath features (benzaldehyde, 1-propanol, 3,6-methylundecane, camphene, beta-cubebene, iodobenzene and an unidentified compound) that separated PCR-positive patients with an area under the curve (AUC): 0.836, sensitivity: 68%, specificity: 85%.Conclusions GC-MS-detected exhaled breath biomarkers were able to identify PCR-positive COVID-19 patients. External replication of these compounds is warranted to validate these results.GC-MS-detected exhaled breath biomarkers can identify PCR-positive #COVID19 patients with modest accuracy https://bit.ly/3sYqL9H ER -