Diagnostic information directly from exhaled breath

Breath provides far more than insights into lung function. Researchers are using it to analyze metabolic biomarkers, breath samples, and breathing patterns for a range of diagnostic applications. Although these technologies have been developed independently, they share a common goal: to make clinically relevant information available where medical decisions are made and to expand point-of-care diagnostics with new applications.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a handheld device that accurately measures acetone levels in exhaled breath. Acetone is considered a biomarker of changes in fat metabolism. The system combines a highly sensitive gas sensor with a filter that removes interfering compounds and an app that standardizes the exhalation process, enabling reproducible measurements.

In a validation study, the measurement results matched those obtained from blood tests and a mass spectrometer used as the reference method. This opens new possibilities for monitoring metabolic disorders, ketogenic therapies, and GLP-1 treatments. Repeated measurements can be performed without blood sampling and may support individualized therapy monitoring.

PulmoBioMed, a spinout from Northumbria University, is pursuing a different approach. Its CE-marked PBM Hale system collects exhaled breath condensate specifically from the deep lung while reducing sample contamination from the mouth, upper airways, and the surrounding environment.

The platform was developed for use in hospitals and primary care settings and can be integrated into existing diagnostic workflows. This provides standardized, high-quality breath samples for further analysis. The approach may facilitate the diagnostic evaluation of lung diseases while creating additional opportunities for research and the development of new respiratory therapies.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the University of Gothenburg are using RFID technology to monitor breathing movements without physical contact. Small adhesive tags placed on the chest are read via radio waves and provide detailed information about movement across different regions of the chest wall.

A feasibility study demonstrated that even subtle differences in breathing movements can be detected. Because the portable system operates without cables or batteries, it is suitable for examinations in hospitals as well as in home settings. The researchers see potential applications in monitoring patients with impaired lung function, including after surgery or in chronic pulmonary diseases. Earlier detection of changes in respiratory function could support ongoing patient monitoring.

The three developments address different clinical questions while demonstrating how breath-based technologies can broaden the diagnostic spectrum beyond traditional laboratory testing and medical imaging. Whether for metabolic monitoring, respiratory diagnostics, or breathing assessment, these approaches provide clinically relevant information directly at the point of care. In doing so, they create new opportunities for patient-centered diagnostics as well as for supporting therapy management and disease monitoring.

Sources: ETH Zurich, Universität Northumbria, Technischen Hochschule Chalmers