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

Guest, Claire, Dewhirst, Sarah Y., Lindsay, Steve W., Allen, David J., Aziz, Sophie, Baerenbold, Oliver, Bradley, John, Chabildas, Unnati, Chen-Hussey, Vanessa, Clifford, Samuel, Cottis, Luke, Dennehy, Jessica, Foley, Erin, Gezan, Salvador A., Gibson, Tim, Greaves, Courtenay K., Kleinschmidt, Immo, Lambert, Sébastien, Last, Anna, Morant, Steve, Parker, Josephine E.A., Pickett, John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1008-6595, Quilty, Billy J., Rooney, Ann, Shah, Manil, Somerville, Mark, Squires, Chelci, Walker, Martin and Logan, James G. 2022. Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study. Journal of Travel Medicine 29 (3) , taac043. 10.1093/jtm/taac043

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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 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.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Chemistry
Additional Information:	This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	1195-1982
Funders:	Department of Health and Social Care, UK Government (2020/023), Durham University COVID-19 response fund (RF020929), NIHR Clinical Research network support (IRAS ID 284222) and charitable donations.
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	28 March 2022
Date of Acceptance:	5 February 2022
Last Modified:	16 May 2023 07:38
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/148921

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