Patent ID: 8491494

Claim:
A method of collecting breath condensate using a breath condensate collection apparatus, the method comprising: providing a central chamber having double side walls, first and second opposing ends, a coolant material sealed between the double side walls, consisting of an inner wall and an outer wall for cooling at least the inner wall of the central chamber, and a breath condensate collection port disposed at the second end of the central chamber; lowering the temperature of the coolant material to chill at least the inner wall of the central chamber; receiving, in an interior of the central chamber, exhaled breath from a patient, delivered through the double side walls via a breath input assembly disposed on the outside of the outer wall of the central chamber; condensing portions of the exhaled breath on inner surfaces of the inner wall of the central chamber; expressing condensate, produced during the condensing step, from the central chamber by depressing a plunger assembly through the central chamber, thereby forcing the condensate into the breath condensate collection port; aspirating the expressed condensate from the breath condensate collection port for analysis thereof, wherein aspirating includes aspirating the expressed condensate into a pipette; transferring the condensate from the pipette to a separate assay well for said analysis thereof; and temporarily sealing the breath condensate collection port during the receiving and condensing steps, wherein providing the central chamber includes providing a central chamber having an outlet and an outlet valve on top of the outer side wall of the central chamber adjacent the second end thereof and providing the breath condensate collection port on a bottom of the central chamber.