Sensor array and gas chromatographic detection of the blood serum volatolomic signature of COVID-19

• Published in: iScience Vol. 24; no. 8; p. 102851
• Main Authors: Mougang, Yolande Ketchanji, Di Zazzo, Lorena, Minieri, Marilena, Capuano, Rosamaria, Catini, Alexandro, Legramante, Jacopo Maria, Paolesse, Roberto, Bernardini, Sergio, Di Natale, Corrado
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 20.08.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Diagnostics; Health sciences; Medical biotechnology; Medical biotechnology; Health sciences; Biotechnology; Diagnostics
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102851

Volatolomics is gaining consideration as a viable approach to diagnose several diseases, and it also shows promising results to discriminate COVID-19 patients via breath analysis. This paper extends the study of the relationship between volatile compounds (VOCs) and COVID-19 to blood serum. Blood samples were collected from subjects recruited at the emergency department of a large public hospital. The VOCs were analyzed with a gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC/MS). GC/MS data show that in more than 100 different VOCs, the pattern of abundances of 17 compounds identifies COVID-19 from non-COVID with an accuracy of 89% (sensitivity 94% and specificity 83%). GC/MS analysis was complemented by an array of gas sensors whose data achieved an accuracy of 89% (sensitivity 94% and specificity 80%). [Display omitted] •Volatile compounds released from human blood serum were analyzed•Blood serum of COVID-19 patients is identified by a pool of 17 volatile compounds•An array of gas sensors detects COVID-19 from serum volatile compounds analysis Health sciences; Diagnostics; Biotechnology; Medical biotechnology