Could dogs be used for widespread real-time testing?

Panrich · 25-09-2020 5:23pm #1

I see that an airport in Finland is starting to use dogs for testing and that they are reporting very good results

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/24/close-to-100-accuracy-airport-enlists-sniffer-dogs-to-test-for-covid-19

"Dogs are also able to identify Covid-19 from a much smaller molecular sample than PCR tests, Helsinki airport said, needing only 10-100 molecules to detect the presence of the virus compared with the 18m needed by laboratory equipment."

There are several other tests going on.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/25/any-breed-could-do-it-dogs-might-be-covid-testers-best-friend

The big benefit I see is that they could be trained quite quickly given the correct direction and also they would be a considerably faster and cheaper method of detection.

hetuzozaho · 25-09-2020 5:40pm

God I hope so!

Dogs in work. Dogs in the pub. And Covid sorted. Brilliant!

funnydoggy · 25-09-2020 5:41pm

Another reason to love doggies ❤️

larva · 25-09-2020 5:44pm

Here Max, go fetch Covid, good boy!

25-09-2020 7:19pm

Dogs save the human race.

I always knew they would one day.

TheBlackPill · 25-09-2020 8:17pm

Whatever you do, dont send the trained dogs East

WesternZulu · 25-09-2020 8:19pm

Only if they're good dogs

TheBlackPill · 25-09-2020 8:21pm

WesternZulu wrote: »

Only if they're good dogs

If your sense of taste is gone you won't be able to taste the dog, so another covid case detected. Hooray

25-09-2020 8:53pm

I see a 7 year old rat in Cambodia has won a medal for his services in finding unexplored land mines. He can detect them safely without triggering them and works on a harness & lead system. He's bigger than your ordinary rat, but just like a regular rat on steroids, and seems very affectionate with his handlers.

circadian · 25-09-2020 10:36pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I see a 7 year old rat in Cambodia has won a medal for his services in finding unexplored land mines. He can detect them safely without triggering them and works on a harness & lead system. He's bigger than your ordinary rat, but just like a regular rat on steroids, and seems very affectionate with his handlers.

Rats actually make good pets. Very clever and affectionate animals.

Could dogs be used for widespread real-time testing?

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