Correlation analysis on data sets to detect infectious agents in the airways by ion mobility spectrometry of exhaled breath

A correlation analysis of peaks found in IMS-Chromatograms was carried out to show the potential of the method in clinical applications. As an example, the data of exhaled breath of patients suffering infections of Pseudomonas were compared to healthy non-smokers. Using a rank sum calculation and providing a correlation table of all peaks found, delivers the basis for visualisation of highest ranked analytes. In addition, a consideration of positive and negative correlated peaks could support sub-grouping, if present. A set of signals could be found for discriminating the two groups of patients using MCC-IMS. Investigations of exhaled breath using ion mobility spectrometry seems to provide a promising means for the non-invasive identification of patients which are colonized or infected with bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.