AUTHOR=Hunter Stephanie R. , Zola Anne , Ho Emily , Kallen Michael , Adjei-Danquah Edith , Achenbach Chad , Smith G. Randy , Gershon Richard , Reed Danielle R. , Schalet Benjamin , Parma Valentina , Dalton Pamela H. 

TITLE=Using SCENTinel® to predict SARS-CoV-2 infection: insights from a community sample during dominance of Delta and Omicron variants

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1322797

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1322797

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Based on a large body of previous research suggesting that smell loss was a predictor of COVID-19, we investigated the ability of SCENTinel ® , a newly validated rapid olfactory test that assesses odor detection, intensity, and identification, to predict SARS-CoV-2 infection in a community sample. Between April 5, 2021, and July 5, 2022, 1,979 individuals took one SCENTinel ® test, completed at least one physician-ordered SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, and endorsed a list of self-reported symptoms. Among the of SCENTinel ® subtests, the self-rated odor intensity score, especially when dichotomized using a previously established threshold, was the strongest predictor of SARS-CoV-2 infection. SCENTinel ® had high specificity and negative predictive value, indicating that those who passed SCENTinel ® likely did not have a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Predictability of the SCENTinel ® performance was stronger when the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was dominant rather than when the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was dominant. Additionally, SCENTinel ® predicted SARS-CoV-2 positivity better than using a self-reported symptom checklist alone. These results indicate that SCENTinel ® is a rapid assessment tool that can be used for population-level screening to monitor abrupt changes in olfactory function, and to evaluate spread of viral infections like SARS-CoV-2 that often have smell loss as a symptom.