SCENTinel: A Rapid Smell Test for COVID-19 Surveillance - PROJECT SUMMARY
Smell loss is a predominant symptom of COVID-19, and initial evidence based on self-reports suggests that
chemosensory 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 true
prevalence of smell loss in patients with COVID-19 by 20% compared to an objective test. Therefore, we
propose testing and deploying a rapid and objective measure of smell ability, the SCENTinel test, inspired by
the 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 assesses
three smell loss factors: odor detection, odor intensity, and odor identification. It is designed for practical use in
several contexts, including high-density areas such as community medical sites, universities, subacute care
facilities, and both industrial and nonindustrial workplaces. Our multi-disciplinary team has expertise in
understanding taste and smell, developing and validating chemosensory tests, as well as studying the broad
symptomatology of COVID-19. The group is led by MPI Dalton from the Monell Chemical Senses Center, an
expert in human olfaction and designing olfactory tests; MPI Parma from Temple University is an expert in
COVID-19 smell loss, is the Chair of the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research, and has expertise in
conducting research in rapidly changing situations; Dr. Schalet and his team at Northwestern University and
Dr. Chun and his team at Yale University, among the other established and interested partners (Fox subacute
nursing homes, Hormel Food). Our team also includes the Director of Technology Transfer at the Monell
Center, Dr. O’Leary, to explore potential partners and expand SCENTinel deployment nationwide. Dr. Reed
from the Monell Chemical Senses Center will work directly with the Data Coordination Center, drawing on her
experience in managing large shared NIH datasets. All will work closely with the NIH Project Scientist. This
proposal 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 NIH
Toolbox® Odor Identification Test. Together, these aims will establish a standardized protocol for use of
SCENTinel as a rapid and objective smell test that can easily be incorporated into onsite COVID-19 testing
centers, schools, and workplaces nationwide. Furthermore, it will provide key insights into early-onset
chemosensory symptoms in relation to a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, providing a crucially needed means
to contain the spread of COVID-19.
