Development of Genetic Diagnostic Methods for Detection for Novel Coronavirus 2019(nCoV-2019) in Japan
Kazuya Shirato, Naganori Nao, Harutaka Katano, Ikuyo Takayama, Shinji Saito, Fumihiro Kato, Hiroshi Katoh, Masafumi Sakata, Yuichiro Nakatsu, Yoshio Mori, Tsutomu Kageyama, Shutoku Matsuyama, Makoto Takeda
Abstract
During the emergence of novel coronavirus 2019 (nCoV) outbreak in Wuhan city, China at the end of 2019, there was movement of many airline travelers between Wuhan and Japan, suggesting that the Japanese population was at high risk of infection by the virus. Hence, we urgently developed diagnostic systems for detection of 2019 nCoV. Two nested RT-PCR and two real-time RT-PCR assays were adapted for use in Japan. As of February 8, 2020, these assays have successfully detected 25 positive cases of infection in Japan.
Topics & Concepts
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)OutbreakVirology2019-20 coronavirus outbreakCoronavirusPopulationBetacoronavirusMedicineBiologyEnvironmental healthInternal medicineDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)SARS-CoV-2 detection and testingSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology