Some dogs can be trained to sniff out COVID — and they’re pretty darned good at it. Studies have reported a 98% accuracy rating for COVID detection by trained dogs. That often beats the accuracy of PCR tests used to confirm the findings once a dog signals a “hit.”
These results are why COVID scent dogs have been used in some airports, entertainment venues and schools. But canine detection isn’t a panacea.
For one thing, canine recognition of medical scents is much more complicated than detecting drugs or explosives. Odors differ among people, and different medical conditions can have similar scents. That’s why the investment for a single trained dog can top $25,000.
So for now, COVID scent detection dogs are scarce. But researchers continue mining the potential of using man’s best friend to root out a proven enemy.