GC-MS used successfully to identify bladder cancer from urine headspace
Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and a group of scientists have experimented with a new non-invasive way to potentially diagnose it in the future.
As studies have previously indicated that volatile organic compounds specific to bladder cancer may exist in urine headspace, scientists have decided to research this further by analysing urine samples from two goups; patients diagnosed with bladder cancer or a non-cancerous urological disease or infection, and from healthy volunteers.
Outline of the human bladder
The volatile metabolomes in the urine headspace were analysed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and a specifically designed pattern recognition system was found to be 89% accurate at making diagnoses of the samples. This result provides further evidence of the potential for volatile biomarkers to form the basis of a non-invasive diagnostic technique for bladder cancer.
The analytical method used in this research, GC-MS, often requires a carrier gas such as hydrogen. If you require carrier gas for GC-MS, or gas for any other laboratory applications such as ELSD, LCMS, GC or TOC, you can find your ideal gas generator here on the Peak Scientific website.
Why should you use a gas generator instead of cylinders?
Gas cylinders have been the traditional way to supply gases to applications in the lab but technology has moved on and there is a better alternative to supply gas to your laboratory - a gas generator. Gas generators are safer than cylinders, which can be damaged and rapidly release a large amount of gas into the laboratory atmosphere. With a gas generator, only a minimal amount of gas is stored as it is produced on demand, so even in the case of a leak, a minimal and much less dangerous amount of gas would be released. Furthermore, Peak Scientific gas generators are equipped with leak detection technology so, in the unlikely event of a leak, they will shut themselves down, removing any risk.
When compared with cylinders, which need to be moved and replaced when they run out, and make safe handling training necessary for staff, gas generators are much more convenient. With the push of a button a gas generator will meet your gas demands at the flow and purity you require, and will never run out. There is no need to monitor purity, as is required with cylinders, and worrying about cylinders running out mid-analysis would be a thing of the past.
With a gas generator there are no hidden costs, no price increases due to market volatility, no cylinder rental costs and no recurring administration costs associated with orders and deliveries. In fact, within a year, your gas genenerator could have paid for itself in terms of savings when compared to ongoing cylinder use, as this blog demonstrates.
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