Laboratory readiness and response for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in expert laboratories in 30 EU/EEA countries, January 2020

Euro Surveill. 2020 Feb;25(6):2000082. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.6.2000082. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Abstract

Timely detection of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection cases is crucial to interrupt the spread of this virus. We assessed the required expertise and capacity for molecular detection of 2019-nCoV in specialised laboratories in 30 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. Thirty-eight laboratories in 24 EU/EEA countries had diagnostic tests available by 29 January 2020. A coverage of all EU/EEA countries was expected by mid-February. Availability of primers/probes, positive controls and personnel were main implementation barriers.

Keywords: 2019-nCoV; coronavirus; emerging infections; laboratory; response; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / standards*
  • Coronavirus / classification
  • Coronavirus / genetics*
  • Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / genetics
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • European Union
  • Humans
  • Laboratories / standards*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Reference Standards
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • Sequence Analysis

Substances

  • RNA, Viral