title: [Design and performance of a laboratory of olfactory test. Application of a new evaluation system].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study and evaluate the factors that may influence on human olfactory sensibility to pyridine, we designed a specific laboratory with a new olfactory test to perform accurate measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have chosen pyridine as the test substance in our laboratory, for its frequent use of it in other studies. The special conditions of our laboratory are designed to allow individuals to access to this substance, controlling the different factors and parameters. With this purpose, we have validated the test and we have settled the reference threshold values with the score of thirty voluntary healthy patients between 20 and 40 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have used four different concentrations of pyridine to study the different factors of olfactory sensibility. 95% of cases detected the highest pyridine concentration and the remaining concentrations allowed us to know the olfactory sensibility of the studied population and the inferior thresholds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have designed, performed and endorsed a laboratory for the study of olfaction. We have determined the sensibility of the studied population to different concentrations of pyridine that can be considered as a reference for further studies.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vallés
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cervera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology