In-life Phase

Samples for metabonomic studies are collected in the so-called in-life phase. Typically, biofluids and / or tissue are collected in controlled animal studies or in clinical trials. For in-life animal studies, dedicated metabonomics studies can be performed (with special optimized study protocols concerning food, adaption time, sample collection...) or sample collection can be added to existing animal studies. Thereby urine and blood are collected during the study, and CSF and organ tissues are sampled at the termination. For human studies, sample collection of urine and blood (and CSF) for metabonomic invesigations is usually added to existing clinical trials.