{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T21:48:22Z","timestamp":1790804902845,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,10]],"date-time":"2024-01-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1704844800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective olfactory function can be assessed using validated olfactory tests like the Sniffin\u2019 Sticks Test (SST). However, their extensive nature makes them less suitable for clinical practice. To address this, shorter olfactory tests like the screenings Sniffin\u2019 Sticks Test (SST-12) can be used for screening purposes and reduce testing time. The SST-12 serves as a diagnostic tool for screening olfaction in cases unrelated to COVID-19. However, these screening tests are uncertain regarding their accuracy in detecting olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 as the plausible cause. We aim to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the SST-12 in adults with post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. We performed a diagnostic accuracy study with data from 113 consecutive COVID-19 diagnosed patients who experienced objectified smell loss ever since. At approximately 6 months after their diagnosis, all participants underwent the SST (reference standard), part of the SST was the SST-12 (index test). Diagnostic accuracy of the SST-12 is measured as negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and specificity. The SST-12 detected smell loss in 85 patients among 91 patients with smell loss and ruled out smell loss in 15 patients among the 22 patients without smell loss based on the reference standard. Making sensitivity 93.4% (CI 0.87\u20130.97), and specificity 68.2% (CI 0.48\u20130.85). Out of the 92 patients with a positive test result on SST-12, 85 patients had indeed smell loss (PPV 92.4% CI 0.86\u20130.97), and out of the 21 patients with a negative test result, 15 patients had no smell loss regarding the reference standard (NPV 71.4% CI 0.50\u20130.88). The findings suggest that the SST-12 holds promise as a useful tool for identifying individuals with smell loss, also in individuals with COVID-19 as cause, but it is important to have a good understanding of the interpretation of the results of the SST-12 when considering its implementation in clinical practice.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0295911","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,10]],"date-time":"2024-01-10T18:29:12Z","timestamp":1704911352000},"page":"e0295911","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Diagnostic accuracy of the screenings Sniffin\u2019 Sticks Test (SST-12) in COVID-19 induced olfactory disorders"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7753-0470","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Emma J. A.","family":"Schepens","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5154-7178","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Inge","family":"Stegeman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Digna M. A.","family":"Kamalski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0295911.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.4193\/RHINOL\/21.010","article-title":"Persistent olfactory complaints after COVID-19: a new interpretation of the psychophysical olfactory scores","volume":"4","author":"C Vandersteen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rhinol Online"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1093\/chemse\/bjt072","article-title":"Olfactory Disorders and Quality of Life\u2014An Updated Review","volume":"39","author":"I Croy","year":"2014","journal-title":"Chem Senses"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1097\/MLG.0b013e318155a4b9","article-title":"The Influence of Olfactory Loss on Dietary Behaviors","volume":"118","author":"K Aschenbrenner","year":"2008","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113899","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2022.113899","article-title":"Well-being in patients with olfactory dysfunction","volume":"254","author":"Y Mai","year":"2022","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4193\/Rhino16.248","article-title":"Position paper on olfactory dysfunction","volume":"54","author":"T Hummel","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rhinology journal"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1159\/000500559","article-title":"Fast Screening of Olfactory Function Using the Q-Sticks Test","volume":"81","author":"A Sorokowska","year":"2019","journal-title":"ORL"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1002\/lary.26229","article-title":"Patterns of olfactory impairment reflect underlying disease etiology","volume":"127","author":"KL Whitcroft","year":"2017","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"460","DOI":"10.2500\/ajr.2007.21.3043","article-title":"Office Procedures for Quantitative Assessment of Olfactory Function","volume":"21","author":"RL Doty","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am J Rhinol"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref009","first-page":"15","article-title":"Clinical Implications of Psychophysical Olfactory Testing: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Outcome.","author":"B Su","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Neurosci"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref010","first-page":"15","article-title":"Clinical Implications of Psychophysical Olfactory Testing: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Outcome. Front Neurosci","author":"B Su","year":"2021"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"460","DOI":"10.2500\/ajr.2007.21.3043","article-title":"Office Procedures for Quantitative Assessment of Olfactory Function","volume":"21","author":"RL Doty","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am J Rhinol"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"976","DOI":"10.1177\/000348940111001015","article-title":"Screening of Olfactory Function with a Four-Minute Odor Identification Test: Reliability, Normative Data, and Investigations in Patients with Olfactory Loss","volume":"110","author":"T Hummel","year":"2001","journal-title":"Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3477","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-021-07148-y","article-title":"What about using sniffin\u2019 sticks 12 items test to screen post-COVID-19 olfactory disorders?","volume":"279","author":"C Vandersteen","year":"2022","journal-title":"European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"976","DOI":"10.1177\/000348940111001015","article-title":"Screening of Olfactory Function with a Four-Minute Odor Identification Test: Reliability, Normative Data, and Investigations in Patients with Olfactory Loss","volume":"110","author":"T Hummel","year":"2001","journal-title":"Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology."},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2209","DOI":"10.1097\/01.mlg.0000183194.17484.bb","article-title":"Utility of a Three-Item Smell Identification Test in Detecting Olfactory Dysfunction","volume":"115","author":"AH Jackman","year":"2005","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1097\/00005537-199603000-00021","article-title":"Development of the 12-Item Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test(CC-SIT).","volume":"106","author":"RL Doty","year":"1996","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S20","DOI":"10.14639\/0392-100X-suppl.1-42-2022-03","article-title":"Results from psychophysical tests of smell and taste during the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a review","volume":"42","author":"EMC Trecca","year":"2022","journal-title":"Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-020-06267-2","article-title":"Psychophysical evaluation of chemosensory functions 5 weeks after olfactory loss due to COVID-19: a prospective cohort study on 72 patients.","volume":"278","author":"S-D Le Bon","year":"2021","journal-title":"European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e060416","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-060416","article-title":"COCOS trial: CO rticosteroids for CO VID-19-induced loss of S mell\u2013protocol for a single-centred, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial","volume":"12","author":"EJA Schepens","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"445","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-022-02625-5","article-title":"Prednisolone does not improve olfactory function after COVID-19: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.","volume":"20","author":"EJA Schepens","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e060416","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-060416","article-title":"COCOS trial: CO rticosteroids for CO VID-19-induced loss of S mell\u2013protocol for a single-centred, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial","volume":"12","author":"EJA Schepens","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref022","volume-title":"Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis.","author":"Steven mcGee.","year":"2018","edition":"4"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"524","DOI":"10.4193\/Rhin20.263","article-title":"Predominance of an altered sense of smell or taste among long-lasting symptoms in patients with mildly symptomatic COVID-19","volume":"58","author":"P Boscolo-Rizzo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Rhinology journal"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref024","article-title":"High prevalence of long-term olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis dysfunction in post-COVID-19 patients: a matched case-control study with one-year follow-up using a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation","author":"P Boscolo-Rizzo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rhinology journal"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-018-5248-1","article-title":"Updated Sniffin\u2019 Sticks normative data based on an extended sample of 9139 subjects.","volume":"276","author":"A Oleszkiewicz","year":"2019","journal-title":"European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jneumeth.2015.01.034","article-title":"Extended version of the \u201cSniffin\u2019 Sticks\u201d identification test: Test\u2013retest reliability and validity","volume":"243","author":"A Sorokowska","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Neurosci Methods"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref027","first-page":"116","article-title":"Clinical significance of results from olfactory testing","author":"V Gudziol","year":"2006","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"h5527","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.h5527","article-title":"STARD 2015: an updated list of essential items for reporting diagnostic accuracy studies","author":"PM Bossuyt","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1316","DOI":"10.1007\/s00415-010-5516-5","article-title":"A short olfactory test based on the identification of three odors","volume":"257","author":"T Hummel","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Neurol"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-018-5248-1","article-title":"Updated Sniffin\u2019 Sticks normative data based on an extended sample of 9139 subjects.","volume":"276","author":"A Oleszkiewicz","year":"2019","journal-title":"European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology"},{"key":"pone.0295911.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4193\/Rhino16.248","article-title":"Position paper on olfactory dysfunction","volume":"54","author":"T Hummel","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rhinology journal"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0295911","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,10]],"date-time":"2024-01-10T18:29:41Z","timestamp":1704911381000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0295911"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Claudio","family":"Andaloro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,10]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,10]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0295911","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,10]]}}}