OBJECTIVE: To establish a fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (F-PCR) method for detecting the coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate its value for clinical application. METHODS: The primers and the fluorescence-labeled probe were designed and synthesized according to the published sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus genes. A F-PCR diagnosis kit for detecting the coronavirus was developed, and 115 clinical nasopharyngeal gargling liquid samples were tested. RESULTS: The sequence of PCR amplified products completely matched the related sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus genome. Forty-nine out of 67 samples from identified SARS patients and 8 of 18 samples from persons having close contact with SARS patients showed positive results. All 30 samples from healthy controls were negative. CONCLUSION: The F-PCR method established may be a rapid, accurate and efficient way for screening and for the early diagnosis of SARS patients.
OBJECTIVE: To establish a fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (F-PCR) method for detecting the coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate its value for clinical application. METHODS: The primers and the fluorescence-labeled probe were designed and synthesized according to the published sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus genes. A F-PCR diagnosis kit for detecting the coronavirus was developed, and 115 clinical nasopharyngeal gargling liquid samples were tested. RESULTS: The sequence of PCR amplified products completely matched the related sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus genome. Forty-nine out of 67 samples from identified SARSpatients and 8 of 18 samples from persons having close contact with SARSpatients showed positive results. All 30 samples from healthy controls were negative. CONCLUSION: The F-PCR method established may be a rapid, accurate and efficient way for screening and for the early diagnosis of SARSpatients.
Authors: Paul K S Chan; Wing-Kin To; King-Cheung Ng; Rebecca K Y Lam; Tak-Keung Ng; Rickjason C W Chan; Alan Wu; Wai-Cho Yu; Nelson Lee; David S C Hui; Sik-To Lai; Ellis K L Hon; Chi-Kong Li; Joseph J Y Sung; John S Tam Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 6.883