I’m Wang Jian from BGI, a veteran who experienced the SARS epidemic in 2003. When we first completed the sequencing of the SARS virus in China and developed the first diagnostic kit, I also led the SARS pathogen group in Beijing.
In this epidemic, we were first to provide accurate clinical diagnosis of the new coronavirus, designated by the National Health and Medical Commission as a third-party inspection agency, and received the first batch of virus sequencing and diagnostic reagent registration certificates approved by the State Food and Drug Administration.
On the first day of the new year, I led a team of BGI to Wuhan. The situation there reminded me of Beijing during SARS in 2003, with similar urgency but unprecedented scale.
Clinical Challenges
- The number of confirmed and suspected cases continues to rise, with nearly 100,000 people under medical observation nationwide. Rapid testing and diagnosis are critical to relieve clinical pressure.
- Public panic is intensifying due to contact tracing, isolation periods, and widespread suspicion, making early and accurate detection crucial.
- The city lockdown has strained logistics and mobility. Rapid testing capacity is essential to prevent wider disruption.
Solution: High-Throughput Testing and Sequencing
Accurate qRT-PCR nucleic acid detection, combined with high-throughput gene sequencing and antibody testing, provides the most effective approach to:
- Resolve clinical diagnosis challenges
- Relieve social panic
- Support Wuhan’s mass prevention and control efforts
We propose building a 10,000-throughput testing center to meet the testing demands of Wuhan and Hubei, estimated at over 100,000 tests daily. This facility will enable timely diagnosis, isolation, and mass population monitoring.
Three-Step Testing Implementation
- Clinical Patients: Rapid diagnosis for suspected and fever patients to ensure timely treatment and isolation.
- High-Risk Groups: Regular testing for frontline workers and potential contacts to detect infections early and prevent spread.
- Public Screening: Provide self-sampling and centralized testing options for citizens to understand their infection risk.
BGI’s Historical Expertise
- 2003: Decoded SARS virus genome in 36 hours, developed a detection kit in 96 hours, and donated 300,000 kits nationwide.
- 2011: Sequenced enterohemorrhagic E. coli in Germany within 5 days and developed a diagnostic kit in 10 days.
- 2014: Supported Ebola outbreak in West Africa with free sequencing equipment and on-site laboratories.
Current COVID-19 Efforts
BGI’s diagnostic kits and high-throughput sequencers are now fully operational across Wuhan, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shijiazhuang. Thousands of employees are working round the clock. So far, BGI has:
- Donated 20,000 diagnostic reagents worth 3.6 million Yuan
- Provided free ultra-high-depth sequencing for over 300 cases, valued at 3 million Yuan
- Distributed 100,000 diagnostic reagents worth 18 million Yuan
Internationally, BGI has supplied reagents and technical support to more than 20 countries, assisting embassies, consulates, and global outbreak responses.
Support Needed
To expand testing capacity, BGI seeks support from society in the following areas:
- Materials: B2 biological safety cabinets, nucleic acid extraction equipment, PCR machines, biological reagents, medical protective supplies
- Donations: Contributions to expand testing for public health benefit
- Expertise: Volunteers with relevant experience to help build high-throughput virus detection centers
Contact Information
- BGI Gene Lab Construction Leader: Zeng Hao, 18620302416
- BGI Customer Service Donation Line: 400-605-6655 (press 0)
