title: Test-retest reliability of the olfactory detection threshold test of the Sniffin' sticks.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the olfactory detection threshold subtest of the Sniffin' Sticks test battery, if administered repeatedly on 4 time points. The detection threshold test was repeatedly conducted in 64 healthy subjects. On the first testing session, the threshold test was accomplished 3 times (T(1) = 0 min, T(2) = 35 min, and T(3) = 105 min), representing a short-term testing. A fourth threshold test was conducted on a second testing session (T(4) = 35.1 days after the first testing session), representing a long-term testing. The average scores for olfactory detection threshold for n-butanol did not differ significantly across the 4 points of time. The test-retest reliability (Pearson's r) between the 4 time points of threshold testing were in a range of 0.43-0.85 (P < 0.01). These results support the notion that the olfactory detection threshold test is a highly reliable method for repeated olfactory testing, even if the test is repeated more than once per day and over a long-term period. It is concluded that the olfactory detection threshold test of the Sniffin' Sticks is suitable for repeated testing during experimental or clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. jessica.albrecht@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anzinger
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kopietz
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schöpf
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kleemann
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pollatos
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiesmann
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D020001:1-Butanol