Non-invasive Methods

Effect monitoring is a suitable strategy for detecting biochemical and immunological effects occurring in the chain of events between exposure and a resulting health disorder. At the IPA, non-invasive methods (NIM) such as the collection and analysis of nasal lavage fluid (NALF), exhaled breath condensate (EBC) or induced sputum are increasingly being applied for the monitoring of effects caused by occupational exposure in the upper and lower respiratory tract and the lung.

Inflammatory biomarkers including differential cell counts aid in the subtyping of respiratory diseases and help to define asthma and COPD phenotypes.