Trials for specially-trained ‘COVID dogs’ that may be able to detect coronavirus in humans, even before symptoms appear, are set to begin as part of new research. This will establish whether they could be used as a potential new non-invasive, early warning measure to detect coronavirus in the future.

World-leading researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) will carry out the first phase of a trial in collaboration with the charity Medical Detection Dogs and Durham University, backed by £500,000 of Government funding. This aims to determine whether dogs are able to detect coronavirus in humans from odour samples.

The trial brings together leading disease control experts from the universities with Medical Detection Dogs.

Part of the Government’s extensive testing strategy

If successful, these dogs could provide a fast and non-invasive detection method alongside the Government’s robust 5-pillar testing strategy. It is one of a number of testing measures being explored in order to ensure the Government’s response to the virus is as extensive as possible.

How will the trial work?

The initial phase of the trial will see NHS staff in London hospitals collect odour samples from people who are infected with coronavirus and those who are uninfected. The 6 bio detection dogs will then undergo thorough training to identify the virus from the samples.

Why dogs?

Detection Dogs, who have already successfully trained dogs to detect the odour of many different diseases in humans, such as cancer, malaria and Parkinson’s disease.

More than 10 years of research gathered by Medical Detection Dogs has shown that the dogs, which could each screen up to 250 people per hour, can be trained to detect the odour of disease at the equivalent dilution of one teaspoon of sugar in 2 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water.

The universities put forward a proposal for the clinical trial to the Government, which has been accepted following strong evidence that the dogs can detect other diseases in humans with a high level of accuracy.

What breed of dogs will be used?

This new trial will look at whether the dogs, a mixture of labradors and cocker spaniels, can be trained to detect coronavirus in people, even if they are not showing symptoms.

Will COVID-19 detection dogs actually be used?

The dogs will only be deployed if backed by strong scientific evidence and is part of the Government’s approach to explore all possible options to tackle coronavirus.