Researchers and public health officials looking for simpler, less invasive sampling methods often turn to either saliva or Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC).  While these two sample types initially seem similar, there are important practical differences.  EBC is an extremely clean sample, suitable for analysis with little or no preparation.  Saliva contains a complex mix of cells, mucus, enzymes and a wide range of organic compounds.  This mixture can complicate any analysis, so typical protocols using saliva are typically purified to isolate the compounds of interest.

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Compared with saliva, EBC is an extremely clean sample matrix that is easy to process and analyze.

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​The VosCryo™ breath collector does not allow a significant amount of saliva into the EBC sample.  Users breath through the tube at a comfortable angle, approximately horizontal.  This prevents any saliva from dripping into the sample due to gravity.  Sample times are low stress and very short, typically under a minute. This prevents saliva from accumulating over time, while breath condensate is rapidly collected.  Finally, the VosCryo™ system's patented reverse-flow collection allows breath to condense efficiently over a wide surface area, while saliva is captured in the mouthpiece.