Detection Threshold (DT)

Overview

The minimum amount of an odourant perceived (smelled) is known as the detection threshold (DT). This minimum amount represents the odour concentration. This serves as a measurement of 1 odour unit or 1 OU/m³ or 1 OU_E/m³.  We can determine this through a selected panel and usually represents 50% of the population.

According to the EN13725 standard, the detection threshold represents a sample. For instance, the dilution factor at which the sample has of being detected under the conditions of the test.  According to E679-04, the detection threshold represents the lowest concentration of a substance in a medium. Above all, it relates to the lowest physical intensity at which a stimulus is detected.

An odour is presented to a panel in order to judge at which dilution the sample can initially being detected. The odours are presented in a decreasing diluted series of samples (neutral gas and odourant) until the dilution at which detection occurs.

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