More about TMAU testing through MEBO Research

MEBO Research have been looking to source a trimethylaminuria testing lab for a while for a few reasons. A primary aim is to provide the body odor and halitosis community with a reliable source of TMAU testing directly, without a doctor's referral, at the least expensive price without a loss of quality. Currently so few labs test for TMAU, and the medical system often puts obstacles in the way, which can prevent those wishing to test getting access to testing. MEBO hopes to prove how many people have some issue with TMAU, with a result that local testing units will add TMAU to their list of metabolism tests.

We have had difficulty identifying labs who would be interested in helping us, especially at an international level. The bigger labs seem not interested, probably due to thinking there is not a market. Eliapharma was contacted because it was noted that a pioneer in analytical testing in the USA, Dr. Orval Albert Mamer, is their Scientific Advisor. His name was noticed from the list of experts who attended the NIH TMAU Workshop in 2002, talking about analysis of choline testing. Dr. Mamer was also involved with this paper about TMAU phenotype testing from 1999.

Eliapharma is an analytical service set up in 2007 by Samir Nassr, who has a long history and expertise in this industry, as can be seen from his bio : Eliapharma team. Although they have not previously offered a 'clinical' testing service as such, they do have the equipment and expertise to test such samples. Samir has kindly offered to help us with this project. The samples will not initially be regarded as 'clinical' specimens. They will be testing the TMA and TMA-oxide in each sample as if for a trial, rather than as a diagnostic service, but will be tested to the same clinical standard and the results given will enable determination of TMAU1 & TMAU2 to the current general clinical reference ranges.

What will be tested :

1. Trimethylamine level
2. Trimethylamine-n-oxide level
3. Creatinine

TMAU phenotype (urine) testing is usually done by any of these 3 methods : (from this link)

• Head-space gas chromatography (GC) or GC-mass spectrometry
• Mass spectroscopy
• Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (state of the art, but very expensive machine)

API4000 for TMAU testing

Eliapharma has a mass spectrometer that will be used for our TMAU testing. They use an API4000 by Applied Systems as seen on this page : TMAU testing machine. The technique used will be Liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry

Currently we are working out the logistics of the testing procedure. It is standard procedure in this type of testing for samples to be tested in 'arrays' to make it economically viable, since the labor costs and materials needed make testing a batch at one time the sensible way to test. We chose 30 people in an array to start with, to keep costs down per person but not have too long to wait to reach 30 people (cost per person = number of samples per batch)

Once we have arranged the shipping and packaging, test-kits will immediately be sent out to those who wish to test, and the samples will be stored at Eliapharma until the 30 people testing have been reached, while MEBO Reseach holds the funds. Once the test is run for the 60 samples collected from 30 people, MEBO will pay Eliapharma in full to run those tests.

Eliapharma is charging $110 for 2 samples per person, and the approximate cost of the kit is currently $30. MEBO is to pay around $1,000 for the cost of materials in the start-up procedure. This is to be paid to Eliapharma from a surcharge/donation of $10 included in the total amount paid by the person testing. It is currently estimated that after 100 people, this fee will be paid off. After that, MEBO will keep the $10 as donations to MEBO Research, a non-profit organization, to either pay for costs involved in testing or in running the charity. So the current estimated price of testing is $110 + $30 + $10 + shipping.

Since Eliapharma is in Canada, thus mostly shipping internationally, and the kits will likely include a small amount of HCL (or another acidic preservative) to stabilise the samples, we are currently working on the best shipping arrangements with the shipper and US and Canadian Customs Agencies. Shipping will be done by FEDEX to begin with. Shipping cost will be included for the round trip. We will always be looking for ways to make shipping the most cost-effective possible.

We will keep you updated with the setting up process.

To register an interest and be on the waiting list
send an email to : tmautest@meboresearch.org


MEBO RESEARCH STAFF

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