SARS-CoV-2 Detection by RT-PCR

The methods of laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been described (5 (link), 31 (link)). Briefly, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was extracted from throat or nasal swab samples from suspected patients. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was detected by real-time RT-PCR assay at the local centres of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Tongji Hospital. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection kit was used according to the manufacturer’s protocol (DAAN Gene Co., Ltd., of Sun Yat-sen University). These diagnostic methods and criteria were based on the recommendations of the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention of China.