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The virus that causes COVID-19 attaches to a cellular receptor, called Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 or, more commonly, ACE2. Viral attachment to ACE2 is the first of two steps necessary for cell entry and infection. The virus binds to the ACE2 receptors. This enables the fusion of viral and cellular membranes, allowing the virus' RNA to enter the cell and disrupt normal cell functioning. The nasal and olfactory mucosa have a high prevalence of ACE2 receptors, explaining why the sense of smell is affected by early stage infection and why COVID-19 lead to anosmia (loss of smell).

ACE2 is a transmembrane protein, first described in 2000. This protein is found on epithelial and endothelial cells of the upper and lower respiratory tract, heart and vasculature, kidneys, and portions of the gastrointestinal tract. It is an ectoenzyme, meaning its actions occur outside of cells. The ubiquitous nature of this receptor explains, in part, why so many different organs can be affected by SARS-CoV-2.

A previously known human coronavirus that is a cause of the "common cold," called NL63 (which is one of four human coronavirus strains that circulate every year in the United States), as well as both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 attach to cells via the ACE2 receptor. While each binds to ACE2, their spike proteins have genetic differences that can result in different binding affinities. Indeed, a comparison of SARS-CoV and NL63 showed the former had greater binding capacity than the latter. However, a second difference may also be important to the infection-related differences among these viruses. SARS-CoV-2 has a cleavage site on the spike protein that has not been detected for SARS-CoV, but which may allow for infection of a wider array of cell types.

COVID-19 is an airborne virus that spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces touched by people. Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them then causes infection. People who are closer than six feet from the infected person are most likely to get infected.

The Corowell Rapid Screening Covid Smell Test detects changes in a person's ability to smell, which is the most common symptom of COVID-19 and variants and is unique to COVID-19. The test also uses the symptom detection list of questions from the WHO/CDC guidelines. This test is very effective in detecting virus infection, even in people in an early stage of infection (known as asymptomatic individuals). In a series of clinical studies with the Corowell test, 30,000 users were tested, with a very high level of accuracy. The Corowell Rapid Screening Covid Smell Test also asks very pertinent questions to help determine, through complex algorithms if the individual has been exposed.

Accuracy is the extent to which a test can determine whether a person is infected. The accuracy of the Corowell test has been verified in clinical studies. In one of these studies, of 415 individuals taking the test only one was classified as a false negative (the test is negative, while the tested person is infected) . No other smell test on the market has been tested so thoroughly. The results of this test were extremely high Accuracy for the Corowell Rapid Screening Covid Smell Test, which confirms the test is very reliable.

Specificity indicates whether a test can detect an infected person as having the specific infection or is affected by other possible diseases that have similar symptoms. COVID-19 is unique in its impact on the smell sense compared to other virus like those that cause the common flu. As a result, the Corowell test has a very high specificity.

In pooled clinical studies, the Corowell test resulted in 96.4% sensitivity versus PCR.

The Sensitivity indicates whether a test can find those that are infected to reduce disease proliferation. The goal is to catch people who are infected from passing the disease to others in a large group or social gathering. The Corowell Rapid Screening Covid Smell Test was designed to do just that, and the test results confirm a 96.4% accuracy rating. This is a proactive approach to reducing the number of contagious individuals comingling with healthy, non-Covid infected individuals.

RT-PCR - Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests use of a sample of fluid and 'amplifies' any viral protein in that sample. As PCR requires a machine, samples are generally sent to a lab to for analysis after collection. PCR tests are used to directly screen for the presence of viral RNA, which will be detectable in the body before antibodies form or symptoms of the disease are present. This means PCR can indicate whether someone has the virus very early on in their illness. However, the amount of time that the PCR machine runs the amplification process on any individual samples determines the sensitivity level and its ability to identify those at early stages of the disease. Right now, the average amount of time for testing on a PCR machine worldwide is 2 hours (CT-20). This results in very low sensitivity and can result in false negatives in the early stages of infection, when the amount of virus in the body is too low to be amplified to a detectable level.

This test is intrusive. A swab is inserted into the nose to the back of the throat to collect a sample in areas where viral presence is most likely. This sample must be sent to a lab, taking up to two days for results to be available. With the need for a PCR machine, run by trained operators in a lab, the test is expensive in comparison to other tests. PCR is very reliable to detect, but - depending on how it is executed - it is not a perfect test, as false negatives can result, and do frequently, in the earlier stages of a COVID-19 infection (first 9 days).

Antigen Test - Antigen tests are immunoassays that detect the presence of a specific viral antigens, which implies current viral infection. Antigen tests are currently authorized to be performed on nasopharyngeal or nasal swab specimens placed directly into the assay's extraction buffer or reagent. The currently authorized antigen tests include point-of-care, laboratory-based, and self-tests, and they can be used for to people of any age.

Antigen tests are also intrusive, and most can be used at the point of care. They are relatively inexpensive (less than PCR). Most of the currently authorized tests return results in approximately 15-30 minutes. Antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 are generally less sensitive than PCR, as the viral load must high to detect antigen levels. Antigen tests do not detect a virus for 15 days of infection, which is when the infected individual is most contagious with all variants

Because of the time it takes to reach the viral load, Antigen tests do not have the Efficacy of PCR or Corowell Rapid Screening Covid Smell Test and are deemed the least desirable to stop the spread of the disease.

Corowell Rapid Screening Covid Smell Test - Corowell is a screening test. It can be used to determine if someone is suspected to be infected by of COVID-19. This is not a replacement for PCR, but as it is very simple to administer, it is very suitable as a first means of defense against the proliferation of the disease. If a person passes the Corowell test there is 96.4% sensitivity versus PCR that the person does not have Covid. The test has the same accuracy as PCR. It allows detection of a virus infection within an hour of infection, which is the same as the for PCR, but much faster than Antigen.

Corowell Rapid Screening COVID Smell Test is a tool to be used to prevent individuals infected with COVID to be mingling with uninfected people, keeping workplaces, institutions, entertainment facilities, and public gatherings free of COVID exposure.