Trials to test if sniffer dogs can detect coronavirus

Led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in collaboration with Medical Detection Dogs and Durham University, the trial will determine whether dogs could be used as a new rapid, non-invasive diagnostic tool for the virus.

Should the trial be successful, the dogs, which could potentially screen up to 250 people-per-hour, could be deployed to airports in the UK within six months.

But before the dogs can be put through their paces, the researchers require samples for these super sniffers to carry out their work, and that’s where members of the public can lend a hand.

The research team is aiming to recruit thousands of people in the north-west of England, a region which has experienced a recent rise in coronavirus cases, who have mild COVID-19 symptoms and are due to have a swab test, or have had a swab test conducted in the previous 24 hours.

The volunteers will provide samples of breath and body odour by wearing a mask for three hours, and nylon socks and a t-shirt for twelve hours.

They are aiming to collect 325 positive and 675 negative samples, in order to confidently ascertain if these dogs can accurately detect the disease.

Once the samples have been collected, they will be taken to the LSHTM for analysis to identify compounds in odour that signify when someone is infected with COVID-19.

The samples will then be sent to the Medical Detection Dogs’ training centre in Milton Keynes where six dogs will undergo training to identify the virus from the samples.

Samples from volunteer NHS staff and members of their households who are due to be tested for COVID-19, are also being collected.

Project lead Professor James Logan, head of the Department of Disease Control at the LSHTM, said: ‘If successful, this trial could revolutionise how we diagnose the virus.

‘Rapid screening of high numbers of people, even if asymptomatic, will help return our lives back to some sort of normality. A huge thank you to everyone who is supporting this important trial. If you are eligible to join it, we’d love to hear from you.’

Claire Guest, CEO and co-founder of Medical Detection Dogs, added: ‘It is vital that we train our dogs to detect the odour of COVID-19 as soon as possible so we can help ensure people move about freely and safely.

‘The latest travel disruptions further highlight the difference the dogs could make.  Public support is essential in making this possible. Anyone who assists us by providing samples will be playing a part in creating a fast, effective and non-invasive diagnosis for the virus and safer spaces for us all.’

The first phase of the trial will be funded by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). For more information about the study click here.

If you are interested in volunteering, have mild COVID-19 symptoms and are due to take a swab test for the virus (or have in the last 24 hours), please call the ARCTEC team at LSHTM on 0207 927 2777  or email coviddogs@lshtm.ac.uk.

If accepted to participate in this trial, you will be sent a sample collection pack.

Picture Credit – LSHTM