The new diagnostic tool will be made possible by technology that uses tiny bioelectronic sensors to replicate -- and improve upon -- the human olfactory system.

The new interdisciplinary technology approach was developed and tested by researchers in Spain, France and Italy with funding from the European Commission's Future and Emerging Technologies initiative.

Scientists say the technology will ultimately lead to electronic "noses" based on natural olfactory receptors that could be used not only in healthcare, but also in agriculture, industry, environmental protection and security.

"The potential uses of smell technology are endless," notes Josep Samitier of the University of Barcelona, coordinator of the project. "Our tests showed that the nanobiosensors will react to a few molecules of odorant with a very high degree of accuracy. Some of the results of the trials surpassed even our expectations."