Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) real-time RT-PCR N gene 2020 (Wuhan-N; 2019-nCoV-related screening test) v2

A real-time RT-PCR to detect the "novel Wuhan" betacoronavirus. Based on sequence MN908947 made available by Professor Yong-Zhen Zhang, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. The target region encodes the nucleocapsid (N). Not tested on wild-type virus (as of 25Jan2020), it is expected to be capable of detecting Wuhan virus, bat-like SARS and SARS virus. Limit of detection not yet determined. A single 1 mismatch at probe-binding site identified with the BetaCoV/USA/CA1/2020|EPI_ISL_406034 variant of 2019-nCoV (as of 29JAN2020). Probe is in the 3'-5' (reverse complement) direction. Notes: Assay is fully optimised (as of 24Jan2020). A final name for this virus has not been decided (as of 25Jan2020).