Working in collaboration with Chengdu Capital Biotechnology and Tsinghua University, West China Hospital of Sichuan University has developed a“respiratory virus ( 6 viruses ) nucleic acid detection kit ( isothermal amplification chip ) ”, which detects respiratory viruses including novel coronavirus. This kit got approved by National Medical Products Administration as a second batch of new coronavirus emergency medical devices on Feb. 22. It will be employed without delay to provide rapid, accurate and effective diagnoses for patients and front-line medical staff. The detective chip was devised and developed under the supervision of Mr. Nanshan Zhong, academician and director of the National Health Commission ( NHC ) high-level expert group and Ms. Lanjuan Li, academician and member of the NHC high-level expert group. It can detect at once six respiratory viruses, including the novel coronavirus, within 1.5 hours using secretion samples of a patient’s nasal and throat swabs. So far, this technology has received 15 patents and seven science and technology awards.
This is the first detection system for novel coronavirus, and it is also the only nucleic acid detection kit for respiratory multi virus ( including novel coronavirus ) index ( 6 kinds ). All other detection products previously approved for the clinical use were simply a RT-RCR detection reagent for COVID-19 index only. It can only distinguish between normal persons and patients infected with novel coronavirus, and can not effectively screen patients for novel coronavirus. Winter and spring are the seasons of high incidence of influenza. This multi index nucleic acid testing product approved for clinical use has the characteristics of " faster, more and safe r": High sample flux needs only 1.5 hours at a time to detect more samples ( each set of equipment can detect 16 samples at the same time ); its multivariate ( 6 items ) index detection is convenient for clinical diagnosis and decision making, and distinguish between common influenza and novel coronavirus infection, reducing the risk and burden of doctors and patients; the virus can be inactivated by adding preservation solution to it. With the chip being less operated and completely sealed, it can effectively prevent the medical personnel against infection. As soon as this“respiratory virus ( 6 viruses ) nucleic acid detection kit ( isothermal amplification chip ) ” is applied to clinical diagnosis, it will be able to quickly identify targeted patients for novel coronavirus, reduce the burden of hospitals and make valuable resources for the treatment of novel coronavirus patients.
It is reported that several hospitals contacted for reservation right after the successful development of the kit. After being approved, these kits have provided urgent support to major hospitals all over the country overnight, especially in Wuhan and other areas with serious epidemic situation, such as Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology ( central court area ), Wuhan Union Hospital, Wuhan Huo-shen-shan Hospital and Hubei People's Hospital.
