SCENTinel: A Rapid Smell Test for COVID-19 Surveillance

PROJECT SUMMARYSmell loss is a predominant symptom of COVID-19, and initial evidence based on self-reports suggests thatchemosensory loss is a sensitive predictor of COVID-19 in the general population, more so than fever.However, given the natural lack of awareness of chemosensory changes, self-reports underestimate the trueprevalence of smell loss in patients with COVID-19 by 20% compared to an objective test. Therefore, wepropose testing and deploying a rapid and objective measure of smell ability, the SCENTinel test, inspired bythe NIH Toolbox® Odor Identification Test that our team previously developed. SCENTinel is an inexpensive,and convenient smell test for COVID-19 surveillance of the population that quickly and easily assessesthree smell loss factors: odor detection, odor intensity, and odor identification. It is designed for practical use inseveral contexts, including high-density areas such as community medical sites, universities, subacute carefacilities, and both industrial and nonindustrial workplaces. Our multi-disciplinary team has expertise inunderstanding taste and smell, developing and validating chemosensory tests, as well as studying the broadsymptomatology of COVID-19. The group is led by MPI Dalton from the Monell Chemical Senses Center, anexpert in human olfaction and designing olfactory tests; MPI Parma from Temple University is an expert inCOVID-19 smell loss, is the Chair of the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research, and has expertise inconducting research in rapidly changing situations; Dr. Schalet and his team at Northwestern University andDr. Chun and his team at Yale University, among the other established and interested partners (Fox subacutenursing homes, Hormel Food). Our team also includes the Director of Technology Transfer at the MonellCenter, Dr. O'Leary, to explore potential partners and expand SCENTinel deployment nationwide. Dr. Reedfrom the Monell Chemical Senses Center will work directly with the Data Coordination Center, drawing on herexperience in managing large shared NIH datasets. All will work closely with the NIH Project Scientist. Thisproposal aims to a) fine-tune SCENTinel's ability to predict a positive COVID-19 diagnostic test; b) examine marginal smell loss as a sign of the earliest phases of COVID-19, before a positive diagnostic test; and c)assess the test's psychometric validity with test-retest reliability measures and validation against the NIHToolbox® Odor Identification Test. Together, these aims will establish a standardized protocol for use ofSCENTinel as a rapid and objective smell test that can easily be incorporated into onsite COVID-19 testingcenters, schools, and workplaces nationwide. Furthermore, it will provide key insights into early-onsetchemosensory symptoms in relation to a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, providing a crucially needed meansto contain the spread of COVID-19.