Rapid Olfactory Tools for Telemedicine-Friendly COVID-19 Screening and Survey

Background: This study developed new tools to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV- 2, particularly rapid screening tools identified potentially infected individuals who can then be isolated/quarantined from the uninfected, and directed towards further testing and treatment.

Materials/Methods: The methodology included self-administered smell tests developed and implemented for the purpose of identifying individuals with COVID-19 prior to, or in the absence of, viral testing, as well as for use in population-level surveillance of COVID-19 spread. Several objective tests were used in clinical or laboratory settings to assess an individual's olfactory ability, including those that test the ability to identify or discriminate odors as well as procedures to determine the lowest concentration an individual can reliably perceive (i.e., odor detection threshold).

Outcome/Impact: The outcomes provided a rapid, remote-friendly, cost-effective, scalable, non-intrusive method to screen for COVID-19 at the individual level and to assess prevalence in communities, especially those that have been traditionally underserved by the health care system and public health infrastructure.