Real-time Quantitative RT-PCR Assay for Quick Detection of SARS-associated Coronavirus RNA
Abstract: A real-time TaqMan-based RT-PCR assay was developed to rapidly detect the Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associate coronavirus(SARS-CoV). Primers and probes specific to the conserved region of the SARS-CoV genome were selected,and the reactive system and conditions were optimized to improve the sensitivity、specificity and repetition of the assay.The results showed that the real-time RT-PCR assay was specific and there were no cross reactions with influenza A-1,A-3,B and H-5N-1 virus、measles virus and other common respiratory viruses.The sensitivity of the assay was 0.1TCID-{50}.It took only three hours from viral RNA extraction to complete the real-time PCR,and the assay was simple and had good repeats. This real-time RT-PCR TaqMan-based assay was a specific、sensitive and quick tool suitable for early and quick detection of SARS-CoV in clinical labs.