Screening method for the determination of volatiles in biomedical samples by means of an off-line closed-loop trapping system and high-resolution gas chromatography-ion trap detection.

A method is described for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in biological matrices (faeces and urine). The technique is based on off-line preconcentration by means of a closed-loop trapping system followed by high-resolution gas chromatography-ion trap detection (HRGC-ITD) for separation and identification of the compounds. The technique has been validated for pattern recognition in faecal and urine samples from healthy volunteers. It is considered a very promising tool in metabolic research.