Validation of a Portable Blood Gas Analyzer for Use in Challenging Field Conditions at High Altitude.

Background: Novel, portable blood gas analyzers (BGAs) may serve as essential point-of-care tools in remote regions, during air travel or in ambulance services but they have not been extensively validated.

Research Question: We compared accuracy of a portable BGA to a validated stationary device.

Methods: In healthy individuals and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease participating in clinical field studies at different altitudes, arterial blood samples were obtained at rest and during exercise in a hospital at 760 m and in a high altitude clinic at 3100 m.

Labeling milk along its production chain with DNA encapsulated in silica.

The capability of tracing a food product along its production chain is important to ensure food safety and product authenticity. For this purpose and as an application example, recently developed Silica Particles with Encapsulated DNA (SPED) were added to milk at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 ppb (μg per kg milk).