Paw Style

Menu
  • Featured
  • Dog Stories
  • Dog Videos
  • Dogs How-To
  • Dog Research
Home
Dog Stories
Study: COVID Sniffing Dogs Work Almost As Well As PCR Tests

Study: COVID Sniffing Dogs Work Almost As Well As PCR Tests

Mari Lylac June 2, 2021
COVID Sniffing Dogs Work Almost As Well As PCR Tests

Image credit: Chewy

The Study

Studies in France and Germany showed that dogs could detect Covid-19 in humans. This is laying the groundwork for sniffing dogs in a collective effort to combat the pandemic.

A growing amount of evidence from researchers and dog trainers shows that dogs can detect Covid-19 infections by utilizing their extreme sense of smell. They can even detect it in people who seem to have no symptoms of the virus.

Dogs can do it with a high degree of precision because they have more than 300 million smell receptors. Humans have roughly five million. Dogs can detect compounds released by the human body such as sweat and saliva.

Dogs have often been used to recognize odors involved in dealing with narcotics or explosives and can also detect cancer, malaria, and diabetes. However, this is the first time that dogs have recognized viral infections in humans.

The Results

Dogs were able to detect the existence of the virus with 97 percent accuracy. The trial was performed by France’s national veterinary school at Paris’s Necker-Cochin hospital in March and April.

These results show how good the dogs were at identifying positive samples. The sniffing tool was 91 percent accurate and reflected how well the dogs could detect negative samples. Often 15-minute antigen tests have a more inadequate detection threshold and are more effective at ruling out the infection than catching it.

COVID Sniffing Dogs Work Almost As Well As PCR Tests

Image Credit: Jakayla Toney

Virus-sniffing dogs, like those used to detect drugs or explosives, could be used more broadly in airports, train stations, and other places where crowds assemble to screen people.

Researchers obtained samples of 335 people aged six to 76 who offered themselves for a PCR test at testing centers in Paris. They used cotton pads compressed for two minutes underneath the participants’ armpits. Sweat samples obtained from the participants’ armpits were provided to at least two separate dogs for smelling. None of the dogs had encountered the participants before. A total of 335 individuals were tested, with 109 testings positive in a monitored PCR test. The researchers had no idea which samples would test positive ahead of time.

COVID Sniffing Dogs Work Almost As Well As PCR Tests

Image Credit: Annie Spratt

Conclusion

In France, the study showed that dogs’ detection rates were 97% sensitive and 91% specific. These results are much better than 15-minute antigen tests. Specificity indicates how easily you can identify a negative sample as a negative. Antigens are samples in blood or urine that trigger an immune response. Sensitivity is how easy it is to identify positive samples as positive. These results are especially impressive when you consider how difficult it is to detect the disease from just one blood sample.

Clinicians in Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom have used dogs to identify Covid. Finland and the United Arab Emirates have been initiating sniffer dog trials at Helsinki and Dubai international airports since last year.

Related

Share
Email
Prev Article
Next Article

Related Articles

Golden Retrievers are known to be the friendliest and most …

Meet Louboutina, The Golden Retriever Who Spreads The Love In The Big Apple With Hugs

Hard To Place Sadie is a beautiful big German Shepherd. …

The Story Of How Sadie Saved Her Owner’s Life

About The Author

Mari Lylac
Mari Lylac

Mari Lylac grew up loving dogs! So she decided to create a dog blog about the furry companions whom we love to love.... Paw Style - Where Dogs Are All The Rage!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Genius Dog 300 x 600 - Animated

Popular Posts

  • This White German Shepherd Evaded Rescue For …
    May 30, 2022 0
  • Couple Had No Clue That The Pit …
    June 6, 2022 0
  • Sweet Rottweiler Savors Mom’s Loving Head Rubs, …
    June 13, 2022 0
  • Young Golden Retriever Falls Asleep Beside Its …
    June 13, 2022 0
  • Richmond Animal Control Officers Rescue Pregnant Pit …
    June 20, 2022 0

Paw Style

Recent Articles

  • Richmond Animal Control Officers Rescue Pregnant Pit Bull Abandoned And Locked Inside Dumpster
  • Young Golden Retriever Falls Asleep Beside Its Human Mom, And The Way He Did Is Further Proof That Puppies Are Just Like Children
  • Sweet Rottweiler Savors Mom’s Loving Head Rubs, And The Puppy’s Look Of Pure Bliss Will Put You In A Relaxed Mood
  • Couple Had No Clue That The Pit Bull They Fostered Was Pregnant With A Huge Litter Of Puppies
  • This White German Shepherd Evaded Rescue For So Long And It Took An Entire Crew To Finally Save Her

Categories

  • Dog Research
  • Dog Stories
  • Dog Videos
  • Dogs How-To
  • Featured

Menu

  • HOME
  • FACEBOOK
  • CONTACT
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CURATION POLICY
  • DMCA
  • ORDER NOW
Copyright © 2022 Paw Style