Forensic Science International: Synergy (Jan 2021)

Preliminary accuracy of COVID-19 odor detection by canines and HS-SPME-GC-MS using exhaled breath samples

  • Julian Mendel,
  • Kelvin Frank,
  • Lourdes Edlin,
  • Kelley Hall,
  • Denise Webb,
  • John Mills,
  • Howard K. Holness,
  • Kenneth G. Furton,
  • DeEtta Mills

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3
p. 100155

Abstract

Read online

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, since its initial outbreak in Wuhan, China has led to a worldwide pandemic and has shut down nations. As with any outbreak, there is a general strategy of detection, containment, treatment and/or cure. The authors would argue that rapid and efficient detection is critical and required to successful management of a disease. The current study explores and successfully demonstrates the use of canines to detect COVID-19 disease in exhaled breath. The intended use was to detect the odor of COVID-19 on contaminated surfaces inferring recent deposition of infectious material from a COVID-19 positive individual. Using masks obtained from hospitalized patients that tested positive for COVID-19 disease, four canines were trained and evaluated for their ability to detect the disease. All four canines obtained an accuracy >90% and positive predictive values ranging from ~73 to 93% after just one month of training.

Keywords