Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of the Biolfa(R) olfaction test and establish normative values.
Patients and methods: The new Biolfa(R) olfaction test includes a quantitative test to measure the olfactory threshold of three substances in a concentration range from 1 to 9 and a semi-quantitative test to assess olfactory "acuteness" for eight substances. Substances used for this test entail non-significant trigeminal stimulation. A population of 28 women and 24 men without olfactory dysfunction were tested.
Results: The olfactory threshold obtained with the quantitative test ranged from 5.86 to 9.54 for women, and from 6.4 to 9.6 for men. Analysis of the thresholds identified with the semi-quantitative test enabled establishing normative values for recognition of the eight substances. These values were reported on a diagram to allow partial translation of each subject's olfactory "acuteness". Olfactory threshold and smell identification ability were statistically superior for women.
Conclusion: The Biolfa(R) olfaction test is the first allowing determination of both the olfactory threshold and quantification of smell identification ability. Normative values were obtained in this study to detect disease states.