German researchers create quick diagnostic test for Chinese coronavirus

As the world researchers try to identify the cause of a mysterious, novel coronavirus from China, researchers from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have made headway on at least tracking its existing, with the creation of a new assay protocol that allows quick testing of suspected cases.

Since its discovery in Wuhan, China, the new coronavirus has popped up in cases in Thailand and Japan as well, sparking fears of a global pathogen spread. It can cause severe pneumonia. In all, 41 cases struck China itself, including two deaths. Since the initial cases were reported on Dec. 31, 2019, little more of the virus has revealed itself. Researchers still do not know how patients were infected, whether human-to-human transmission is involved or even how the disease is being transmitted, the clinical spectrum of the disease, or the extent of infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The new test, however, means that while experts might not yet be able to determine where the virus came from, they can at least halt it quicker. The test is publicly available, following online publication by WHO, though a joint evaluation study is underway.

“Now that this diagnostic test is widely available, I expect that it won’t be long before we are able to reliably diagnose suspected cases,” Dr. Christian Drotsen, professor and director of the Institute of Virology on Campus Charité Mitte, said. “This will also help scientists understand whether the virus is capable of spreading from human to human. This is an important step in our fight against this new virus.”

DZIF and its virus detection and preparedness group intend to increase preparedness for the emergence of new viruses, like this one.