Trained dogs can smell with remarkable accuracy which people are infected with coronavirus, according to French scientists.
The researchers, who made the pre-publication in medRxiv, according to Reuters, asked 335 volunteers in Paris to undergo a molecular PCR test for coronavirus, as well as provide sweat samples. Of those, 109 were found to have Covid-19, 78 with symptoms and 31 without symptoms.
The sweat samples were then given to the dogs to sniff. The dogs were 97% accurate in detecting people with coronavirus, a rate as high as 100% in detecting asymptomatic people. They were also 91% accurate in detecting those without infection, a rate as high as 94% in those without symptoms. The overall sensitivity of the canine "test" was found to be higher than the rapid antigen test (97% versus 84%), but its specificity was lower (90% versus 97%).
"Canine testing is non-invasive and provides immediate and reliable results. Further studies will focus on evaluating canine olfaction for mass pre-screening at airports, ports, railway stations, cultural and sporting events," the researchers said. As they noted, dog sniffing "may be an alternative to molecular tests when it is necessary to get a result very quickly."
Source: APE-MPA
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