Disease can leave a telltale fingerprint in body odor, and researchers have now shown that a laser-based scanning technique can pick up on it. A small proof-of-concept study found measurable differences in volatile compounds between healthy people and those with Parkinson's disease or COVID-19.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, examined whether laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy could detect disease-related shifts in the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that make up a person's body odor—shifts already known to be present in exhaled breath and bodily fluids, but historically hard to measure outside slow, specialized lab setups.
Researchers at Fraunhofer IIS took swab samples from the anterior nasal cavity, the navel and the outer ear of 24 participants: six healthy controls and six each with Parkinson's disease, COVID-19 and other conditions. A spectrometer using widely tunable quantum cascade lasers and a sensitive photoacoustic detector then recorded each sample's spectral fingerprint of volatile compounds, with the nasal swab proving the most promising sampling site.
Statistical analysis showed the scope of the measurement could be reduced significantly without losing relevant diagnostic information, pointing toward a compact, fast and cost-effective version of the technology down the line. Repeat measurements taken two weeks apart from three Parkinson's disease participants also showed early signs that an individual's VOC signature remains stable over time, rather than fluctuating unpredictably.
While larger studies involving a more diverse range of participants under real-world conditions will be needed before the technology could support clinical use, researchers say it could eventually offer early indications of disease and help guide decisions about further testing.
Data from Fraunhofer IIS