Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection by canine olfaction.

Background: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, testing individuals remains a key action. One approach to rapid testing is to consider the olfactory capacities of trained detection dogs.

Methods: Prospective cohort study in two community COVID-19 screening centers.

Evaluation of canine detection of COVID-19 infected individuals under controlled settings.

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the standard diagnostic method to detect symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals infected with Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, RT-PCR results are not immediate and may falsely be negative before an infected individual sheds viral particles in the upper airways where swabs are collected. Infected individuals emit volatile organic compounds in their breath and sweat that are detectable by trained dogs.