Three Novel Real-Time RT-PCR Assays for Detection of COVID-19 Virus

<sec> <b> <b>What is already known on this topic?</b> </b> A novel human coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV, is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We have released the primers and probes of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays for the laboratory detection of COVID-19 infection. </sec><sec> <b> <b>What is added by this report?</b> </b> Here we provide detailed technical data and evaluate the performance of three novel rRT-PCR assays targeting the ORF1ab, N, and E genes for detection of COVID-19 infection. The application of rRT-PCR assays among four types of specimens (alveolar lavage, sputum, throat swabs, and stool) from patients with COVID-19 indicated that the mean viral loads detected in sputum were higher than other specimens. </sec><sec> <b> <b>What are the implications for public health practice?</b> </b> These rRT-PCR assays reported here could be used for laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 infection with high sensitivity, specificity, and applicability. Sputum rather than throat swabs and stool should be a priority for specimen collection for laboratory detection of COVID-19. </sec>