2. Real-time RT-PCR
The optimal concentration of primers and probes, which were synthesized using a published sequence [12], was determined with the RNA transcripts of SARS-CoV. The primer and probe sequences used for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene detection were: 5′-GTGARATGGTCATGTGTGGCGG-3′ (Forward), 5′-CARATGTTAAASACACTATTAGCATA-3′ (Reverse) and 5′-CAGGTGGAACCTCATCAGGAGATGC-3′ (Probe in 5-FAM/3′-BHQ format) and the primer and probe sequences used for E gene detection were: 5′-ACAGGTACGTTAATAGTTAATAGCGT-3′ (Forward), 5′-ATATTGCAGCAGTACGCACACA-3′ (Reverse) and 5′-ACACTAGCCATCCTTACTGCGCTTCG-3′ (Probe in 5-FAM/3′-BHQ format). A 25-μL reaction was setup that contained 5 μL of RNA, 12.5 μL of 2 × reaction buffer provided with the Agpath IDTM 1 step RT-PCR system (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA), 1 μL of 25 × enzyme mixture, 1 μL of forward and reverse primers at 10 pM, and 0.5 μL of each probe at 10 pM. Reverse transcription was performed at 50°C for 30 minutes, followed by inactivation of the reverse transcriptase at 95°C for 10 minutes. PCR amplification was performed with 40 cycles at 95°C for 15 seconds and 60°C for 1 minute using an ABI 7500 Fast instrument (Thermo Fisher Scientific).