VOC breath testing is an emerging, non-invasive approach to detect disease-related chemical patterns in exhaled air. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), characteristic VOC profiles appear to mirror changes in metabolism, oxidative stress and the gut–brain axis—opening the door to earlier diagnosis and objective monitoring alongside motor scales and olfactory testing. Nature
Why breath?
Recent clinical work shows that breath VOC signatures can distinguish PD from healthy controls and track disease stage, using both in-clinic (online) sensors and offline analysis of collected samples. In a cohort of 177 PD patients and 37 controls, classification accuracies ranged from ~74% to ~96% depending on readouts, and 29 discriminatory molecules were identified. PubMed A 2023 meta-analysis further supports breath/sebum VOCs as promising PD biomarkers (pooled sensitivity ~81%, specificity ~76%), underscoring the potential for screening and follow-up once protocols are standardized. ScienceDirectPubMed
How samples are collected (and why Tedlar bags are practical)
In research and clinical pilots, exhaled breath is captured either directly onto sorbent tubes or first into inert bags and then transferred to tubes for GC-MS or sensor analysis. Tedlar® (PVF) breath bags remain popular because they’re easy to use, compatible with capnography-guided end-tidal collection, and show low background for most on-breath VOCs compared with multilayer foil bags—provided you manage known bag contaminants (e.g., phenol, DMAc) with blanks and prompt transfer after collection. Practical parameters often include filling to ~80% capacity and immediate transfer to sorbent tubes to minimize losses. SpringerLink Reviews also note that bag sampling captures “whole breath” unless you fractionate (e.g., end-tidal), so use capnography or valve timing when you need alveolar enrichment. PMC Independent evaluations describe how storage time/material can attenuate certain analytes—another reason to analyze quickly. PMC
We supply Tedlar bags for breath gas sampling (multiple volumes, fittings) from our NL warehouse with world wide delivery. These bags have a mouthpiece and are ideal for breath-VOC research workflows. We also have Altef (PVDF) bags available as an alternative for Tedlar.
Where the field is heading
A 2025 review in npj Parkinson’s Disease concludes that VOC analysis across matrices (breath, skin, stool) is clinically promising but still needs larger cohorts and standardized protocols before routine adoption. Short-chain fatty acids and other microbially linked volatiles are highlighted as biologically plausible targets that may change years before motor symptoms. Nature
Suggested workflow (research/clinic pilots)
- Define use case: screening, stratification, or longitudinal monitoring.
- Standardize sampling: fasting window, medication status, environment, end-tidal fractionation, blanks. SpringerLinkPMC
- Choose analytics: TD-GC-MS (gold-standard discovery) or validated sensor platforms for point-of-care and follow-up. Nature
- Pair with established tests: motor scales, smell testing (e.g., Sniffin’ Sticks/UPSIT) and clinical imaging as appropriate.
