Digital SMELL-RS Test Shows Reliability and Correlation with Sniffin' Sticks in Olfactory DysfunctionCan a quick digital test reliably measure your sense of smell?

medRxiv Published April 3, 2026 Study authors: Hsieh, J. W.; Dougherty, M.; Poulopoulou, A.; Blidariu, D.; Senn, P.; Hopper, R.; Patel, D.; Maggion… DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Lars van Dijk, PhD · Surgical, Procedural & Diagnostic

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Key Takeaway

Consider the digital SMELL-RS a rapid, reliable tool for olfactory screening that correlates with Sniffin' Sticks.

A test-retest reliability study evaluated a self-administered, digital olfactory test (SMELL-RS) in 100 subjects with and without smell dysfunction at a tertiary care facility. The test's composite score demonstrated good test-retest reliability (ICC=0.71, p<0.0001) and correlated with the established Sniffin' Sticks composite score (r=0.68, p<0.0001). The SMELL-R component took an average of 5.9 minutes (SD=1.9) to complete, while the SMELL-S component took 5.5 minutes (SD=2.7). The study reported these times as two to three times faster than Sniffin' Sticks tests.

Safety and tolerability data were not reported. The study's key limitations were not explicitly detailed in the provided information, but the design as a reliability study means it does not establish diagnostic accuracy or clinical utility compared to a gold standard. The sample was drawn from a single tertiary care setting.

For practice, this study provides initial evidence that the SMELL-RS is a rapid, automated test with reliable scores that correlate with a standard measure. However, its role in clinical diagnosis or monitoring remains to be defined by studies assessing sensitivity, specificity, and performance across diverse populations and etiologies of olfactory loss.

Imagine trying to figure out if your sense of smell is fading. A new study looked at whether a simple digital test you can take on your own could reliably measure that. Researchers tested 100 people, some with smell problems and some without, at a medical center. They had people take the new digital test, called SMELL-RS, twice to see if the scores were consistent, and they compared it to a standard smell test done by a professional called Sniffin' Sticks. The results showed the digital test's overall score was reliable when taken twice, and it correlated well with the standard clinic test. The digital test was also fast—taking about six minutes to complete. The study didn't report any safety issues or problems with people tolerating the test. It's important to remember this was a specific type of study designed to check if the test gives consistent results, not to prove it changes health outcomes. The sample was 100 people at one medical center, and the abstract didn't list specific limitations, so we don't know how it might work for different groups of people in everyday life.

What this means for you:

A fast, self-administered digital smell test shows reliable results in an initial study.

Study Details

Sample sizen = 100

EvidenceLevel 5

PublishedMar 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Background: Smell testing is increasingly recognized as essential in rhinology practice but remains underutilized because of time constraints and limited clinical resources. This study aimed to evaluate the performance (test-retest reliability, accuracy and test completion time) of a self-administered, digital version of SMELL-RS, a non-semantic test of olfactory resolution (SMELL-R) and sensitivity (SMELL-S). Methodology: We performed a test-retest reliability study in a tertiary care facility. We enrolled 100 subjects with and without smell dysfunction. The primary outcome measures were two replicates of olfactory test scores (SMELL-RS composite score, SMELL-R score, SMELL-S score). The secondary outcome measures were Sniffin Sticks score, test completion time, patient demographics, and other clinical characteristics (clinical symptoms, etiologies). Results: The SMELL-RS composite score was reliable (ICC=0.71; p<0.0001) and correlated with the Sniffin Sticks composite score (r=0.68; p<0.0001). Different etiologies have different magnitudes of smell loss as revealed by the SMELL-RS score. SMELL-S reduces misdiagnosis associated with Sniffin Sticks threshold tests. The average completion time of the olfactory resolution test (SMELL-R) was on average 5.9 minutes (SD=1.9), while the average completion time of the olfactory sensitivity test (SMELL-S) was 5.5 minutes (SD=2.7). This is two to three times faster than the corresponding Sniffin Sticks tests. Conclusions: SMELL-RS is a rapid, fully automated, reliable, and accurate olfactory test suitable for self-administration in a clinical setting.

Digital SMELL-RS Test Shows Reliability and Correlation with Sniffin' Sticks in Olfactory DysfunctionCan a quick digital test reliably measure your sense of smell?

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Digital SMELL-RS Test Shows Reliability and Correlation with Sniffin' Sticks in Olfactory DysfunctionCan a quick digital test reliably measure your sense of smell?

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