We present two real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays for a novel human coronavirus (CoV), targeting regions upstream of the E gene (upE) or within open reading frame (ORF)1b, respectively. Sensitivity for upE is 3.4 copies per reaction (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5-6.9 copies) or 291 copies/mL of sample. No cross-reactivity was observed with coronaviruses OC43, NL63, 229E, SARS-CoV, nor with 92 clinical specimens containing common human respiratory viruses. We recommend using upE for screening and ORF1b for confirmation.

hdl.handle.net/1765/87211
Eurosurveillance
Department of Virology

Corman, V., Eckerle, I., Bleicker, T., Zaki, A., Landt, O., Eschbach-Bludau, M., … Drosten, C. (2012). Detection of a novel human coronavirus by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Eurosurveillance, 17(39). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/87211