Six brilliant dogs are working hard to detect coronavirus as a way to help us all get back to normality.
The study is based on the scientifically proven ability of dogs to act as great biosensors, capable of detecting odours associated with human health, as well as drugs, explosives and food.
It's hoped that if it works, and dogs can pick up the scent of coronavirus, the non-invasive testing approach can be quickly scaled up.
You could soon see dogs screening travellers at airports, identifying individuals who may require an additional test for confirmation or advised to self-isolate.
There is also potential for trained dogs to be used to screen commuters at travel hubs, visitors at museums, theatres, cinemas and sporting venues, which could help the entertainment sector.
If the study works, it's hoped each dog could screen up to 250 people per hour.
Six special dogs - Millie, Kyp, Lexi, Marlow, Asher and Tala - were trained to detect the smell of coronavirus, and the smart pups picked up the scent in six to eight weeks during the study at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The charity Medical Detection Dogs intensively trained the dogs at their dedicated training centre in Milton Keynes, working in partnership with the ARCTEC at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and Durham University.
Millie
Age: 4
Breed: Golden Retriever
Character : Playful, friendly, vocal
At work: Happy with a real spring in her step
Likes: Instigating games with her colleagues and charging around the paddock
Kyp
Age: 4
Breed: Labrador x Golden Retriever
Character: Loving, affectionate, likes to sing!
At work: Bright, quick to learn
Likes: His humans, other dogs, zoomies
Lexi
Age: 5
Breed: Labrador
Character: Happy, keen, cheerful
At work: Driven, loves to use her nose
Likes: Lunchtime walks, her ball, cuddles
Marlow
Age: 4
Breed: Labrador
Character: Works hard, plays hard
At work: Excited to enter the training room, sociable
Likes: Power naps, exploring, playing with other dogs
Asher
Age: 6
Breed: Working Cocker Spaniel
Character: Eccentric, busy, inquisitive
At work: Focussed, loves an audience
Likes: Using his nose, working, howling to be let through doors
Tala
Age: 4
Breed: Labrador
Character: Soft, gentle, cuddly
At work: Hard worker, very decisive
Likes: Jumping very high, cuddles
