The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test: normative adjustment for Australian subjects

Abstract

Clinical assessment of olfactory function is not standardised in Australia. Olfactory function is more often tested qualitatively, with no reference to quantitative norms. This practice leads to misdiagnosis, considering the well established differences in olfactory abilities with sex and age. Published norms for the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), a standardised test of olfactory function, are based upon North American subjects but their utility has not been shown when used for Australian subjects. We matched the scores of Australians tested with the North American English version of the UPSIT with scores of a group of North Americans matched on the basis of race, gender, age and smoking habits. On average, the Australians performed two points lower than the North Americans, suggesting that a test score correction of two points is appropriate when the North American English version of this test is used in Australia.