NHS staff in sniffer dog trial

NHS staff are participating in a trial which aims to see whether dogs can sniff out Covid-19. Testing has begun to see whether medical detection dogs can be trained to smell the disease.

Scientists are seeking “odour samples” to see whether dogs can accurately pick up the scent of Covid-19, even in people who are asymptomatic.

As part of the trial, led by the London School of Hygiene and

Tropical Medicine in collaboration with charity Medical Detection Dogs and Durham University, volunteers will provide samples of breath and body odour by wearing a mask, socks and a T-shirt. Ninety two staff have already signed up to take part.

Staff who are due to be tested as part of routine testing in the hospital are also giving their odour samples to researchers.

It is hoped that if the trial is successful the dogs can be used at UK airports to screen people arriving from abroad.