Short answer: Stable isotopes — ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, deuterium (D) and ³He — are non-radioactive atoms used as molecular labels in clinical diagnostics, metabolomics, NMR, ecological nitrogen-cycle research and national-defense science. They are supplied as isotope gases (1–100L), isotope reagents (typically 98–99atom% enrichment) and custom isotope mixtures (200ppm–98%). Choose a supplier with high-abundance feedstocks, flexible enrichment and documented analysis.
Why stable isotopes matter
Unlike radioactive tracers, stable isotopes are safe and legal to use in humans and the environment. Labeling a molecule with ¹³C or ¹⁵N lets researchers and clinicians track it precisely through metabolism, the nitrogen cycle, or an MRI scan.
Key isotope applications
| Application | Isotope | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Breath tests (H. pylori, liver function) | ¹³C (urea-¹³C) | Safe, non-radioactive diagnostics |
| Clinical mass spectrometry | ¹³C, ¹⁵N | Internal standards and labeled metabolites |
| Labeled metabolomics | ¹³C, ¹⁵N, D | Metabolic flux and pathway studies |
| Labeled biomolecular NMR | ¹³C, ¹⁵N, D | Protein/nucleic acid structure |
| Hyperpolarized MRI | ¹³C, ³He, ¹²⁹Xe | Enhanced medical imaging |
| Ecological nitrogen research | ¹⁵N | Tracing the nitrogen cycle (award-winning tech area) |
| Environmental radiation detection | ³He / BF₃ | Proportional counters for neutron detection |
| Satellite payloads / laser gyros | Xe, Ne isotopes | Aerospace and defense |
Isotope gas product parameters
| Product | Typical size |
|---|---|
| Deuterium gas D₂ | 100L – 8m³ |
| Helium-3 ³He | 1 – 50L |
| Methane-¹³C (CH₄) | 5 – 50L |
| Carbon monoxide-¹³C (CO) | 5 – 50L |
| Carbon dioxide-¹³C (CO₂) | 1 – 100L |
| Nitrogen-¹⁵N₂ | 1 – 50L |
| Oxygen-¹⁸O₂ / ¹⁷O₂ | 1 – 50L |
| Neon-²⁰Ne / ²¹Ne / ²²Ne | 1 – 50L |
| Argon-³⁸Ar / ⁴⁰Ar | 1 – 50L |
| Krypton-⁸²Kr / ⁸⁴Kr / ⁸⁶Kr | 1 – 50L |
| Xenon-¹²⁴Xe / ¹²⁹Xe | 1 – 50L |
Isotope reagents: what does 99atom% mean?
Reagent enrichment is stated as atom percent — the fraction of atoms at the labeled position that are the isotope. 99atom% ¹³C means 99% of the carbon atoms at that position are ¹³C.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| ¹³C reagents (99atom%) | Urea-¹³C, sodium carbonate-¹³C, calcium/barium/silver carbonate-¹³C, methanol-¹³C, sodium acetate-¹³C₂, glucose-¹³C₆, urea-¹³C rapid diagnostic capsules |
| ¹⁵N reagents (99atom%) | Urea-¹⁵N₂, ammonium sulfate-¹⁵N, potassium/sodium nitrite-¹⁵N, glycine-¹⁵N, L-alanine-¹⁵N, ammonium chloride-¹⁵N |
| Dual-labeled | Urea-¹⁵N¹³C, double-labeled water D₂¹⁸O |
| D / ¹⁸O | Heavy water D₂O (99.9atom% D), oxygen-18 water (98atom% ¹⁸O) |
How isotope mixtures are made
Isotope gas mixtures start from high-abundance feedstocks (¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, D, Xe, etc.), use ultra-high-purity inert gases as balance, and are prepared gravimetrically or by partial pressure to customer proportions from 200ppm to 98%.
What to check when sourcing isotopes
- Enrichment (atom%) — confirm the labeled position and enrichment level.
- Package — 1–100L cylinders for gases; gram-to-kilogram reagent packaging.
- Analysis documentation — isotopic enrichment and chemical purity certificates.
- Custom mixtures — confirm preparation method (gravimetric/partial pressure) and tolerance.
- Regulatory fit — isotopes for clinical use may need local regulatory documentation.
FAQ
Q1: Are stable isotopes radioactive?
No. Stable isotopes such as ¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹⁸O are non-radioactive, which is why they are approved for human breath tests and environmental tracing.
Q2: What is the ¹³C urea breath test?
A patient ingests urea-¹³C; if H. pylori is present, its urease splits the urea and releases ¹³CO₂, which is detected in exhaled breath — a gold-standard, non-invasive diagnostic.
Q3: What does 98atom% vs 99atom% enrichment mean?
The percentage of atoms at the labeled site. Higher enrichment improves signal-to-noise in MS/NMR but costs more. Choose the enrichment that meets your method’s sensitivity.
Q4: Can isotope gases be shipped internationally?
Yes — as compressed gases in UN-approved cylinders, with CoA and isotope documentation. ³He and some isotopes have supply-control considerations; confirm export requirements in advance.
Q5: What is double-labeled water (D₂¹⁸O)?
Water labeled with both deuterium and oxygen-18, used in the gold-standard method for measuring total energy expenditure (doubly labeled water method).
Q6: How is nitrogen-15 used in ecological research?
¹⁵N-labeled fertilizers or tracers track nitrogen uptake, transformation and loss through ecosystems — the technology area in which Newradar won the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation Technical Invention Award (Third Prize).
Q7: Where do I find high-enrichment isotope reagents?
Specialized suppliers carry 99atom% ¹³C/¹⁵N reagents and custom isotope mixtures. Confirm batch certificates and enrichment analysis before ordering.
Sources
- International isotope-production literature (cryogenic distillation, chemical exchange)
- Clinical diagnostics references on ¹³C breath tests and doubly labeled water method
- NMR/metabolomics method standards for isotope-labeled compounds
- Newradar 2026 corporate brochure — isotope gases & reagents section (www.nrdgas.com)
Post time: Sep-01-2026