Enlisting Scratch & Sniff in COVID-19 Battle

Could scratch-n-sniff that once helped communicate the scent of a cleaning product help curb the spread of COVID-19? A graphic communications company believes so.
 
Taylor Corporation, North Mankato, MN, has launched new tools for employers and consumers to help them identify loss of smell, which it contends can be a solid indicator of the novel coronavirus.
 
Taylor’s loss-of-scent detection tools use a patent-pending process of printing scented inks on small “scratch and sniff” cards to identify whether someone has experienced a loss of smell. The company worked directly with several major universities and experts in the industry to support its ongoing scent-screening solutions development. As one of the largest graphic communications companies in North America, Taylor has long pioneered innovative print-based solutions to common business problems.
 
Taylor first identified the role that loss of smell can play in screening protocols when nurses on-site at a plant began conducting scent checks using jars of easily recognized substances such as vanilla and cinnamon. The tests identified several employees with COVID-19 who had passed their initial temperature checks, said Taylor. 
 
Taylor said it began to envision an easier way to conduct scent checks among a broader audience. As a result, the company developed a scalable, single-use, hygienic, non-invasive and recyclable method to conduct scent checks as a part of symptom screening. Taylor offers its tools in several different formats for use by both children and adults in home, school, business and retail settings.
 
The company’s scentcard has two scratch-and-sniff areas per card while Scent Check has four areas. Both carry a variety of scents placed randomly throughout the card decks. 
 
Taylor says it has scaled its production and technology capacity to produce millions of scent screening cards per week.