Canine olfactory detection and its relevance for the medical identification of patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: The assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath or sweat represents a potential non-invasive and rapid diagnostic tool for respiratory diseases.

Objective: To determine if trained dogs can reliably identify the odour associated with COVID19.

Methods: This is a monocentric prospective study carried out in the Emergency Department (ED) of a university hospital fromJulyto November 2021.