Table 1.

Commercially available exhaled breath condensate collection systems.

EBC Collection System (Manufacturer)	Advantages	Disadvantages	References
ECoScreen I and ECoScreen II (Viasys, U.S., Europe)	The most commonly applied EBC collection system. More often used in European countries. There is an optional package for determining the total exhaled volume.	Not readily portable. Cleaning between patients may need to be extensive to abide by standard respiratory care practices. No way of controlling condensation temperature (Eco1).	[13,29,44,49,62–63]
Rtube (Respiratory Research, U.S.)	More total EBC collections than other systems. Multiple collections can be performed concurrently. Most commonly applied in North American centers. No cleaning between patients is necessary. Portable. Can be prepared for use in a standard freezer.	Choice and maintenance of set condensing temperature requires an optional cooling unit, otherwise the condensation temperature is chosen by cooling the sleeve preparation temperature and rises during collection.	[64–66]
Anacon (Biostec, Valencia, Spain)	Temperature of collection can be controlled. Designed for use on ventilated patients	Only a few publications are available.	[67,68]
TurboDeccs (ItalChill, Parma, Italy)	Has both non-disposable and disposable portions. Controllable collection temperature. Moderately portable. Readily cleanable because components are disposable.	Very few publications exist. Only one collection at a time is possible.	[69]
Polish Patent	Constant maximum contact between the test-tube and the cooling agent. Possibility of inserting different sizes of test tubes.	Dismantling and cleaning after use is necessary.	[70]