Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study: an observational study

Claire Guest; Sarah Y. Dewhirst; Steve W. Lindsay; David J. Allen; Sophie Aziz; Oliver Baerenbold; John Bradley; Unnati Chabildas; Vanessa Chen-Hussey; Samuel Clifford; Luke Cottis; Jessica Dennehy; Erin Foley; Salvador A. Gezan; Tim Gibson; Courtenay K. Greaves; Immo Kleinschmidt; Sébastien Lambert; Anna Last; Steve Morant; Josephine E.A. Parker; John Pickett; Billy J. Quilty; Ann Rooney; Manil Shah; Mark Somerville; Chelci Squires; Martin Walker; James G. Logan; Robert Jones; Ana Assis; Ewan Borthwick; Laura Caton; Rachel Edwards; Janette Heal; David Hill; Nazifa Jahan; Cecelia Johnson; Angela Kaye; Emily Kirkpatrick; Sarah Kisha; Zaena Ledeatte Williams; Robert Moar; Tolulope Owonibi; Benjamin Purcell; Christopher Rixson; Freya Spencer; Anastasios Stefanidis; Sophie Stewart; Scott Tytheridge; Sian Yates-Wakley; Shanice Wildman; Catherine Aziz; Helen Care; Emily Curtis; Claire Dowse; Alan Makepeace; Sally Anne Oultram; Jayde Smith; Fiona Shenton; Harry Hutchins; Robert Mart; Jo Anne Cartwright; Miranda Forsey; Kerry Goodsell; Lauren Kittridge; Anne Nicholson; Angelo Ramos; Joanne Ritches; Niranjan Setty; Mark Vertue; Malin Bergstrom; Zain Chaudhary; Angus De Wilton; Kate Gaskell; Catherine Houlihan; Imogen Jones; Marios Margaritis; Patricia Miralhes; Leah Owens; Tommy Rampling; Hannah Rickman; Marta Boffito; Candida Fernandez; Bryony Cotterell; Anne Marie Guerdette; George Tsaknis; Margaret Turns; Joanne Walsh; Lisa Frankland; Raha West; Maureen Holland; Natalie Keenan; Helen Wassall; Megan Young; Jade Rangeley; Gwendolyn Saalmink; Sanjay Adlakha; Philip Buckley; Lynne Allsop; Susan Smith; Donna Sowter; Alison Campbell; Julie Jones; Steve Laird; Sarah O'toole; Courteney Ryan; Jessica Evans; James Rand; Natasha Schumacher; Tracey Hazelton; Andrew Dodgson; Susannah Glasgow; Denise Kadiu; Orianne Lopuszansky; Anu Oommen; Joshi Prabhu; Molly Pursell; Jane Turner; Hollie Walton; Robert Andrews; Irena Cruickshank; Catherine Thompson; Tania Wainwright; Alun Roebuck; Tara Lawrence; Kimberley Netherton; Claire Hewitt; Sarah Shephardson; Winston Andrew Crasto; Judith Lake; Rosemary Musanhu; Rebecca Walker; Karen Burns; Andrew Higham; Julie Le Bas; Nicola Mackenzie; Hilary Thatcher; Shannen Beadle; Sarah Buckley; Gail Castle; Aimee Fletcher; Sara Holbrook; Patricia Kane; Kate Lindley; Tracey Lowry; Stephanie Lupton; Sharon Oddy; Lynda Slater; Martin Sylvester; Kenneth Agwuh; Veronica Maxwell; Stephen Ryder; Kirsty Topham; Obi Egbuniwe; Rebecca Matthews; Alejandro Arenas-Pinto; Paulina Prymas; Abigail Severn; Amber Shaw; Safia Begum; Daniel Lenton; James Scriven; Lucy Leeman; Karen Rudge; Emma Storr; Ana Alvarez; Kate Forster; Daniel Hind; Natalie Cook; Rosanna Peeling; Peter Carey; Anne Wilson; Jane Davis

doi:10.1093/jtm/taac043

Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study: an observational study

Claire Guest, Sarah Y. Dewhirst, Steve W. Lindsay, David J. Allen, Sophie Aziz, Oliver Baerenbold, John Bradley, Unnati Chabildas, Vanessa Chen-Hussey, Samuel Clifford, Luke Cottis, Jessica Dennehy, Erin Foley, Salvador A. Gezan, Tim Gibson, Courtenay K. Greaves, Immo Kleinschmidt, Sébastien Lambert, Anna Last, Steve MorantJosephine E.A. Parker, John Pickett, Billy J. Quilty, Ann Rooney, Manil Shah, Mark Somerville, Chelci Squires, Martin Walker, James G. Logan, Robert Jones, Ana Assis, Ewan Borthwick, Laura Caton, Rachel Edwards, Janette Heal, David Hill, Nazifa Jahan, Cecelia Johnson, Angela Kaye, Emily Kirkpatrick, Sarah Kisha, Zaena Ledeatte Williams, Robert Moar, Tolulope Owonibi, Benjamin Purcell, Christopher Rixson, Freya Spencer, Anastasios Stefanidis, Sophie Stewart, Scott Tytheridge, Sian Yates-Wakley, Shanice Wildman, Catherine Aziz, Helen Care, Emily Curtis, Claire Dowse, Alan Makepeace, Sally Anne Oultram, Jayde Smith, Fiona Shenton, Harry Hutchins, Robert Mart, Jo Anne Cartwright, Miranda Forsey, Kerry Goodsell, Lauren Kittridge, Anne Nicholson, Angelo Ramos, Joanne Ritches, Niranjan Setty, Mark Vertue, Malin Bergstrom, Zain Chaudhary, Angus De Wilton, Kate Gaskell, Catherine Houlihan, Imogen Jones, Marios Margaritis, Patricia Miralhes, Leah Owens, Tommy Rampling, Hannah Rickman, Marta Boffito, Candida Fernandez, Bryony Cotterell, Anne Marie Guerdette, George Tsaknis, Margaret Turns, Joanne Walsh, Lisa Frankland, Raha West, Maureen Holland, Natalie Keenan, Helen Wassall, Megan Young, Jade Rangeley, Gwendolyn Saalmink, Sanjay Adlakha, Philip Buckley, Lynne Allsop, Susan Smith, Donna Sowter, Alison Campbell, Julie Jones, Steve Laird, Sarah O'toole, Courteney Ryan, Jessica Evans, James Rand, Natasha Schumacher, Tracey Hazelton, Andrew Dodgson, Susannah Glasgow, Denise Kadiu, Orianne Lopuszansky, Anu Oommen, Joshi Prabhu, Molly Pursell, Jane Turner, Hollie Walton, Robert Andrews, Irena Cruickshank, Catherine Thompson, Tania Wainwright, Alun Roebuck, Tara Lawrence, Kimberley Netherton, Claire Hewitt, Sarah Shephardson, Winston Andrew Crasto, Judith Lake, Rosemary Musanhu, Rebecca Walker, Karen Burns, Andrew Higham, Julie Le Bas, Nicola Mackenzie, Hilary Thatcher, Shannen Beadle, Sarah Buckley, Gail Castle, Aimee Fletcher, Sara Holbrook, Patricia Kane, Kate Lindley, Tracey Lowry, Stephanie Lupton, Sharon Oddy, Lynda Slater, Martin Sylvester, Kenneth Agwuh, Veronica Maxwell, Stephen Ryder, Kirsty Topham, Obi Egbuniwe, Rebecca Matthews, Alejandro Arenas-Pinto, Paulina Prymas, Abigail Severn, Amber Shaw, Safia Begum, Daniel Lenton, James Scriven, Lucy Leeman, Karen Rudge, Emma Storr, Ana Alvarez, Kate Forster, Daniel Hind, Natalie Cook, Rosanna Peeling, Peter Carey, Anne Wilson, Jane Davis

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: A rapid, accurate, non-invasive diagnostic screen is needed to identify people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated whether organic semi-conducting (OSC) sensors and trained dogs could distinguish between people infected with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, and uninfected individuals, and the impact of screening at ports-of-entry. Methods: Odour samples were collected from adults, and SARS-CoV-2 infection status confirmed using RT-PCR. OSC sensors captured the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of odour samples. Trained dogs were tested in a double-blind trial to determine their ability to detect differences in VOCs between infected and uninfected individuals, with sensitivity and specificity as the primary outcome. Mathematical modelling was used to investigate the impact of bio-detection dogs for screening. Results: About, 3921 adults were enrolled in the study and odour samples collected from 1097 SARS-CoV-2 infected and 2031 uninfected individuals. OSC sensors were able to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and uninfected, with sensitivity from 98% (95% CI 95-100) to 100% and specificity from 99% (95% CI 97-100) to 100%. Six dogs were able to distinguish between samples with sensitivity ranging from 82% (95% CI 76-87) to 94% (95% CI 89-98) and specificity ranging from 76% (95% CI 70-82) to 92% (95% CI 88-96). Mathematical modelling suggests that dog screening plus a confirmatory PCR test could detect up to 89% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, averting up to 2.2 times as much transmission compared to isolation of symptomatic individuals only. Conclusions: People infected with SARS-CoV-2, with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, have a distinct odour that can be identified by sensors and trained dogs with a high degree of accuracy. Odour-based diagnostics using sensors and/or dogs may prove a rapid and effective tool for screening large numbers of people. Trial Registration NCT04509713 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Original language	English
Article number	taac043
Journal	Journal of Travel Medicine
Volume	29
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taac043
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2022

Keywords

COVID-19
infection control
public health
rapid screening

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10.1093/jtm/taac043Licence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

Guest, C., Dewhirst, S. Y., Lindsay, S. W., Allen, D. J., Aziz, S., Baerenbold, O., Bradley, J., Chabildas, U., Chen-Hussey, V., Clifford, S., Cottis, L., Dennehy, J., Foley, E., Gezan, S. A., Gibson, T., Greaves, C. K., Kleinschmidt, I., Lambert, S., Last, A., ... Davis, J. (2022). Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study: an observational study. Journal of Travel Medicine, 29(3), Article taac043. https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taac043

@article{3156ddcf7ad849d7b63ec0db05b4a73f,

title = "Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study: an observational study",

abstract = "Background: A rapid, accurate, non-invasive diagnostic screen is needed to identify people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated whether organic semi-conducting (OSC) sensors and trained dogs could distinguish between people infected with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, and uninfected individuals, and the impact of screening at ports-of-entry. Methods: Odour samples were collected from adults, and SARS-CoV-2 infection status confirmed using RT-PCR. OSC sensors captured the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of odour samples. Trained dogs were tested in a double-blind trial to determine their ability to detect differences in VOCs between infected and uninfected individuals, with sensitivity and specificity as the primary outcome. Mathematical modelling was used to investigate the impact of bio-detection dogs for screening. Results: About, 3921 adults were enrolled in the study and odour samples collected from 1097 SARS-CoV-2 infected and 2031 uninfected individuals. OSC sensors were able to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and uninfected, with sensitivity from 98\% (95\% CI 95-100) to 100\% and specificity from 99\% (95\% CI 97-100) to 100\%. Six dogs were able to distinguish between samples with sensitivity ranging from 82\% (95\% CI 76-87) to 94\% (95\% CI 89-98) and specificity ranging from 76\% (95\% CI 70-82) to 92\% (95\% CI 88-96). Mathematical modelling suggests that dog screening plus a confirmatory PCR test could detect up to 89\% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, averting up to 2.2 times as much transmission compared to isolation of symptomatic individuals only. Conclusions: People infected with SARS-CoV-2, with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, have a distinct odour that can be identified by sensors and trained dogs with a high degree of accuracy. Odour-based diagnostics using sensors and/or dogs may prove a rapid and effective tool for screening large numbers of people. Trial Registration NCT04509713 (clinicaltrials.gov).",

keywords = "COVID-19, infection control, public health, rapid screening",

author = "Claire Guest and Dewhirst, \{Sarah Y.\} and Lindsay, \{Steve W.\} and Allen, \{David J.\} and Sophie Aziz and Oliver Baerenbold and John Bradley and Unnati Chabildas and Vanessa Chen-Hussey and Samuel Clifford and Luke Cottis and Jessica Dennehy and Erin Foley and Gezan, \{Salvador A.\} and Tim Gibson and Greaves, \{Courtenay K.\} and Immo Kleinschmidt and S{\'e}bastien Lambert and Anna Last and Steve Morant and Parker, \{Josephine E.A.\} and John Pickett and Quilty, \{Billy J.\} and Ann Rooney and Manil Shah and Mark Somerville and Chelci Squires and Martin Walker and Logan, \{James G.\} and Robert Jones and Ana Assis and Ewan Borthwick and Laura Caton and Rachel Edwards and Janette Heal and David Hill and Nazifa Jahan and Cecelia Johnson and Angela Kaye and Emily Kirkpatrick and Sarah Kisha and \{Ledeatte Williams\}, Zaena and Robert Moar and Tolulope Owonibi and Benjamin Purcell and Christopher Rixson and Freya Spencer and Anastasios Stefanidis and Sophie Stewart and Scott Tytheridge and Sian Yates-Wakley and Shanice Wildman and Catherine Aziz and Helen Care and Emily Curtis and Claire Dowse and Alan Makepeace and Oultram, \{Sally Anne\} and Jayde Smith and Fiona Shenton and Harry Hutchins and Robert Mart and Cartwright, \{Jo Anne\} and Miranda Forsey and Kerry Goodsell and Lauren Kittridge and Anne Nicholson and Angelo Ramos and Joanne Ritches and Niranjan Setty and Mark Vertue and Malin Bergstrom and Zain Chaudhary and \{De Wilton\}, Angus and Kate Gaskell and Catherine Houlihan and Imogen Jones and Marios Margaritis and Patricia Miralhes and Leah Owens and Tommy Rampling and Hannah Rickman and Marta Boffito and Candida Fernandez and Bryony Cotterell and Guerdette, \{Anne Marie\} and George Tsaknis and Margaret Turns and Joanne Walsh and Lisa Frankland and Raha West and Maureen Holland and Natalie Keenan and Helen Wassall and Megan Young and Jade Rangeley and Gwendolyn Saalmink and Sanjay Adlakha and Philip Buckley and Lynne Allsop and Susan Smith and Donna Sowter and Alison Campbell and Julie Jones and Steve Laird and Sarah O'toole and Courteney Ryan and Jessica Evans and James Rand and Natasha Schumacher and Tracey Hazelton and Andrew Dodgson and Susannah Glasgow and Denise Kadiu and Orianne Lopuszansky and Anu Oommen and Joshi Prabhu and Molly Pursell and Jane Turner and Hollie Walton and Robert Andrews and Irena Cruickshank and Catherine Thompson and Tania Wainwright and Alun Roebuck and Tara Lawrence and Kimberley Netherton and Claire Hewitt and Sarah Shephardson and Crasto, \{Winston Andrew\} and Judith Lake and Rosemary Musanhu and Rebecca Walker and Karen Burns and Andrew Higham and \{Le Bas\}, Julie and Nicola Mackenzie and Hilary Thatcher and Shannen Beadle and Sarah Buckley and Gail Castle and Aimee Fletcher and Sara Holbrook and Patricia Kane and Kate Lindley and Tracey Lowry and Stephanie Lupton and Sharon Oddy and Lynda Slater and Martin Sylvester and Kenneth Agwuh and Veronica Maxwell and Stephen Ryder and Kirsty Topham and Obi Egbuniwe and Rebecca Matthews and Alejandro Arenas-Pinto and Paulina Prymas and Abigail Severn and Amber Shaw and Safia Begum and Daniel Lenton and James Scriven and Lucy Leeman and Karen Rudge and Emma Storr and Ana Alvarez and Kate Forster and Daniel Hind and Natalie Cook and Rosanna Peeling and Peter Carey and Anne Wilson and Jane Davis",

year = "2022",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/jtm/taac043",

language = "English",

volume = "29",

journal = "Journal of Travel Medicine",

issn = "1195-1982",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "3",

}

Guest, C, Dewhirst, SY, Lindsay, SW, Allen, DJ, Aziz, S, Baerenbold, O, Bradley, J, Chabildas, U, Chen-Hussey, V, Clifford, S, Cottis, L, Dennehy, J, Foley, E, Gezan, SA, Gibson, T, Greaves, CK, Kleinschmidt, I, Lambert, S, Last, A, Morant, S, Parker, JEA, Pickett, J, Quilty, BJ, Rooney, A, Shah, M, Somerville, M, Squires, C, Walker, M, Logan, JG, Jones, R, Assis, A, Borthwick, E, Caton, L, Edwards, R, Heal, J, Hill, D, Jahan, N, Johnson, C, Kaye, A, Kirkpatrick, E, Kisha, S, Ledeatte Williams, Z, Moar, R, Owonibi, T, Purcell, B, Rixson, C, Spencer, F, Stefanidis, A, Stewart, S, Tytheridge, S, Yates-Wakley, S, Wildman, S, Aziz, C, Care, H, Curtis, E, Dowse, C, Makepeace, A, Oultram, SA, Smith, J, Shenton, F, Hutchins, H, Mart, R, Cartwright, JA, Forsey, M, Goodsell, K, Kittridge, L, Nicholson, A, Ramos, A, Ritches, J, Setty, N, Vertue, M, Bergstrom, M, Chaudhary, Z, De Wilton, A, Gaskell, K, Houlihan, C, Jones, I, Margaritis, M, Miralhes, P, Owens, L, Rampling, T, Rickman, H, Boffito, M, Fernandez, C, Cotterell, B, Guerdette, AM, Tsaknis, G, Turns, M, Walsh, J, Frankland, L, West, R, Holland, M, Keenan, N, Wassall, H, Young, M, Rangeley, J, Saalmink, G, Adlakha, S, Buckley, P, Allsop, L, Smith, S, Sowter, D, Campbell, A, Jones, J, Laird, S, O'toole, S, Ryan, C, Evans, J, Rand, J, Schumacher, N, Hazelton, T, Dodgson, A, Glasgow, S, Kadiu, D, Lopuszansky, O, Oommen, A, Prabhu, J, Pursell, M, Turner, J, Walton, H, Andrews, R, Cruickshank, I, Thompson, C, Wainwright, T, Roebuck, A, Lawrence, T, Netherton, K, Hewitt, C, Shephardson, S, Crasto, WA, Lake, J, Musanhu, R, Walker, R, Burns, K, Higham, A, Le Bas, J, Mackenzie, N, Thatcher, H, Beadle, S, Buckley, S, Castle, G, Fletcher, A, Holbrook, S, Kane, P, Lindley, K, Lowry, T, Lupton, S, Oddy, S, Slater, L, Sylvester, M, Agwuh, K, Maxwell, V, Ryder, S, Topham, K, Egbuniwe, O, Matthews, R, Arenas-Pinto, A, Prymas, P, Severn, A, Shaw, A, Begum, S, Lenton, D, Scriven, J, Leeman, L, Rudge, K, Storr, E, Alvarez, A, Forster, K, Hind, D, Cook, N, Peeling, R, Carey, P, Wilson, A & Davis, J 2022, 'Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study: an observational study', Journal of Travel Medicine, vol. 29, no. 3, taac043. https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taac043

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study: an observational study

AU - Guest, Claire

AU - Dewhirst, Sarah Y.

AU - Lindsay, Steve W.

AU - Allen, David J.

AU - Aziz, Sophie

AU - Baerenbold, Oliver

AU - Bradley, John

AU - Chabildas, Unnati

AU - Chen-Hussey, Vanessa

AU - Clifford, Samuel

AU - Cottis, Luke

AU - Dennehy, Jessica

AU - Foley, Erin

AU - Gezan, Salvador A.

AU - Gibson, Tim

AU - Greaves, Courtenay K.

AU - Kleinschmidt, Immo

AU - Lambert, Sébastien

AU - Last, Anna

AU - Morant, Steve

AU - Parker, Josephine E.A.

AU - Pickett, John

AU - Quilty, Billy J.

AU - Rooney, Ann

AU - Shah, Manil

AU - Somerville, Mark

AU - Squires, Chelci

AU - Walker, Martin

AU - Logan, James G.

AU - Jones, Robert

AU - Assis, Ana

AU - Borthwick, Ewan

AU - Caton, Laura

AU - Edwards, Rachel

AU - Heal, Janette

AU - Hill, David

AU - Jahan, Nazifa

AU - Johnson, Cecelia

AU - Kaye, Angela

AU - Kirkpatrick, Emily

AU - Kisha, Sarah

AU - Ledeatte Williams, Zaena

AU - Moar, Robert

AU - Owonibi, Tolulope

AU - Purcell, Benjamin

AU - Rixson, Christopher

AU - Spencer, Freya

AU - Stefanidis, Anastasios

AU - Stewart, Sophie

AU - Tytheridge, Scott

AU - Yates-Wakley, Sian

AU - Wildman, Shanice

AU - Aziz, Catherine

AU - Care, Helen

AU - Curtis, Emily

AU - Dowse, Claire

AU - Makepeace, Alan

AU - Oultram, Sally Anne

AU - Smith, Jayde

AU - Shenton, Fiona

AU - Hutchins, Harry

AU - Mart, Robert

AU - Cartwright, Jo Anne

AU - Forsey, Miranda

AU - Goodsell, Kerry

AU - Kittridge, Lauren

AU - Nicholson, Anne

AU - Ramos, Angelo

AU - Ritches, Joanne

AU - Setty, Niranjan

AU - Vertue, Mark

AU - Bergstrom, Malin

AU - Chaudhary, Zain

AU - De Wilton, Angus

AU - Gaskell, Kate

AU - Houlihan, Catherine

AU - Jones, Imogen

AU - Margaritis, Marios

AU - Miralhes, Patricia

AU - Owens, Leah

AU - Rampling, Tommy

AU - Rickman, Hannah

AU - Boffito, Marta

AU - Fernandez, Candida

AU - Cotterell, Bryony

AU - Guerdette, Anne Marie

AU - Tsaknis, George

AU - Turns, Margaret

AU - Walsh, Joanne

AU - Frankland, Lisa

AU - West, Raha

AU - Holland, Maureen

AU - Keenan, Natalie

AU - Wassall, Helen

AU - Young, Megan

AU - Rangeley, Jade

AU - Saalmink, Gwendolyn

AU - Adlakha, Sanjay

AU - Buckley, Philip

AU - Allsop, Lynne

AU - Smith, Susan

AU - Sowter, Donna

AU - Campbell, Alison

AU - Jones, Julie

AU - Laird, Steve

AU - O'toole, Sarah

AU - Ryan, Courteney

AU - Evans, Jessica

AU - Rand, James

AU - Schumacher, Natasha

AU - Hazelton, Tracey

AU - Dodgson, Andrew

AU - Glasgow, Susannah

AU - Kadiu, Denise

AU - Lopuszansky, Orianne

AU - Oommen, Anu

AU - Prabhu, Joshi

AU - Pursell, Molly

AU - Turner, Jane

AU - Walton, Hollie

AU - Andrews, Robert

AU - Cruickshank, Irena

AU - Thompson, Catherine

AU - Wainwright, Tania

AU - Roebuck, Alun

AU - Lawrence, Tara

AU - Netherton, Kimberley

AU - Hewitt, Claire

AU - Shephardson, Sarah

AU - Crasto, Winston Andrew

AU - Lake, Judith

AU - Musanhu, Rosemary

AU - Walker, Rebecca

AU - Burns, Karen

AU - Higham, Andrew

AU - Le Bas, Julie

AU - Mackenzie, Nicola

AU - Thatcher, Hilary

AU - Beadle, Shannen

AU - Buckley, Sarah

AU - Castle, Gail

AU - Fletcher, Aimee

AU - Holbrook, Sara

AU - Kane, Patricia

AU - Lindley, Kate

AU - Lowry, Tracey

AU - Lupton, Stephanie

AU - Oddy, Sharon

AU - Slater, Lynda

AU - Sylvester, Martin

AU - Agwuh, Kenneth

AU - Maxwell, Veronica

AU - Ryder, Stephen

AU - Topham, Kirsty

AU - Egbuniwe, Obi

AU - Matthews, Rebecca

AU - Arenas-Pinto, Alejandro

AU - Prymas, Paulina

AU - Severn, Abigail

AU - Shaw, Amber

AU - Begum, Safia

AU - Lenton, Daniel

AU - Scriven, James

AU - Leeman, Lucy

AU - Rudge, Karen

AU - Storr, Emma

AU - Alvarez, Ana

AU - Forster, Kate

AU - Hind, Daniel

AU - Cook, Natalie

AU - Peeling, Rosanna

AU - Carey, Peter

AU - Wilson, Anne

AU - Davis, Jane

PY - 2022/4/1

Y1 - 2022/4/1

N2 - Background: A rapid, accurate, non-invasive diagnostic screen is needed to identify people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated whether organic semi-conducting (OSC) sensors and trained dogs could distinguish between people infected with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, and uninfected individuals, and the impact of screening at ports-of-entry. Methods: Odour samples were collected from adults, and SARS-CoV-2 infection status confirmed using RT-PCR. OSC sensors captured the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of odour samples. Trained dogs were tested in a double-blind trial to determine their ability to detect differences in VOCs between infected and uninfected individuals, with sensitivity and specificity as the primary outcome. Mathematical modelling was used to investigate the impact of bio-detection dogs for screening. Results: About, 3921 adults were enrolled in the study and odour samples collected from 1097 SARS-CoV-2 infected and 2031 uninfected individuals. OSC sensors were able to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and uninfected, with sensitivity from 98% (95% CI 95-100) to 100% and specificity from 99% (95% CI 97-100) to 100%. Six dogs were able to distinguish between samples with sensitivity ranging from 82% (95% CI 76-87) to 94% (95% CI 89-98) and specificity ranging from 76% (95% CI 70-82) to 92% (95% CI 88-96). Mathematical modelling suggests that dog screening plus a confirmatory PCR test could detect up to 89% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, averting up to 2.2 times as much transmission compared to isolation of symptomatic individuals only. Conclusions: People infected with SARS-CoV-2, with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, have a distinct odour that can be identified by sensors and trained dogs with a high degree of accuracy. Odour-based diagnostics using sensors and/or dogs may prove a rapid and effective tool for screening large numbers of people. Trial Registration NCT04509713 (clinicaltrials.gov).

AB - Background: A rapid, accurate, non-invasive diagnostic screen is needed to identify people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated whether organic semi-conducting (OSC) sensors and trained dogs could distinguish between people infected with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, and uninfected individuals, and the impact of screening at ports-of-entry. Methods: Odour samples were collected from adults, and SARS-CoV-2 infection status confirmed using RT-PCR. OSC sensors captured the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of odour samples. Trained dogs were tested in a double-blind trial to determine their ability to detect differences in VOCs between infected and uninfected individuals, with sensitivity and specificity as the primary outcome. Mathematical modelling was used to investigate the impact of bio-detection dogs for screening. Results: About, 3921 adults were enrolled in the study and odour samples collected from 1097 SARS-CoV-2 infected and 2031 uninfected individuals. OSC sensors were able to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and uninfected, with sensitivity from 98% (95% CI 95-100) to 100% and specificity from 99% (95% CI 97-100) to 100%. Six dogs were able to distinguish between samples with sensitivity ranging from 82% (95% CI 76-87) to 94% (95% CI 89-98) and specificity ranging from 76% (95% CI 70-82) to 92% (95% CI 88-96). Mathematical modelling suggests that dog screening plus a confirmatory PCR test could detect up to 89% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, averting up to 2.2 times as much transmission compared to isolation of symptomatic individuals only. Conclusions: People infected with SARS-CoV-2, with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, have a distinct odour that can be identified by sensors and trained dogs with a high degree of accuracy. Odour-based diagnostics using sensors and/or dogs may prove a rapid and effective tool for screening large numbers of people. Trial Registration NCT04509713 (clinicaltrials.gov).

KW - COVID-19

KW - infection control

KW - public health

KW - rapid screening

U2 - 10.1093/jtm/taac043

DO - 10.1093/jtm/taac043

M3 - Article

SN - 1195-1982

VL - 29

JO - Journal of Travel Medicine

JF - Journal of Travel Medicine

IS - 3

M1 - taac043

ER -

Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study: an observational study

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Keywords

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