Improvement of nucleic acid testing encouraged

China has urged efforts to improve nucleic acid testing capabilities of the novel coronavirus, particularly expanding the scope of tests on key groups, said Feng Luzhao, a researcher with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The expansion of nucleic acid testing will help improve precise prevention and control and better safeguard public health, as well as boost the necessary personnel flow push for a comprehensive resumption of production, he said Wednesday at a daily briefing.

Large-scale nucleic acid tests on key groups, units and venues aimed at finding potential infection and minimizing the risk of virus transmission, which includes close contacts, fever patients and caretakers, as well as medical institutions, senior care centers and child welfare institutions, he added.

As for the other groups, such as students who return to school, personnel who resume work and staff who work at public transportation sites, the country will offer nucleic acid tests in an orderly manner to those who want one," he said.

The country should speed up the development and application of fast testing equipment without the use of laboratories, and expand production capacities, he said.

The nucleic acid detection capabilities of medical institutions, disease control centers and customs of county levels or above need to be strengthened, he said, adding that areas with relatively high population density and mobility and border regions should enhance their detection capabilities.

Feng also noted that the country should encourage qualified social testing agencies to provide such services in an effort to expand its commercial applications.