Development of Genetic Diagnostic Methods for Detection for Novel Coronavirus 2019(nCoV-2019) in Japan

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 304 - 307
• Main Authors: Shirato, Kazuya, Nao, Naganori, Katano, Harutaka, Takayama, Ikuyo, Saito, Shinji, Kato, Fumihiro, Katoh, Hiroshi, Sakata, Masafumi, Nakatsu, Yuichiro, Mori, Yoshio, Kageyama, Tsutomu, Matsuyama, Shutoku, Takeda, Makoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee 31-07-2020
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus - genetics; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - methods; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Japan; nCoV-2019; nested RT-PCR; novel coronavirus 2019; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Polyproteins; real-time RT-PCR; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; RNA, Viral - analysis; SARS-CoV-2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics; Viral Proteins - genetics; Japan; nCoV-2019; nested RT-PCR; real-time RT-PCR; novel coronavirus 2019
• ISSN: 1344-6304; 1884-2836
• DOI: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2020.061

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.