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The Alcohol Sniff Test

Terence M. Davidson, MD; Claire Murphy, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123(6):591-594.

Abstract
Background
Smell impairment affects 1% to 2% of Americans and leads to frequent physician visits. Olfactory testing is available in chemosensory centers, but not as part of a routine cranial nerve examination. The alcohol sniff test (AST), which uses the standard 70% isopropyl alcohol pad, was developed as a quick, reliable measure of olfactory function.

Methods
Sixty-four patients and 36 healthy control subjects (N=100) were tested with the AST and with a standard butanol threshold test.

Results
The AST reliably, consistently, and correctly measured olfactory function.

Conclusion
The AST is a rapid, reliable olfactory test that can be used for screening olfactory function and should be incorporated in the routine cranial nerve examination.

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123:591-594

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine (Drs Davidson and Murphy) and the Department of Psychology, San Diego State University (Dr Murphy).

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