On February, under the guidance of academician Zhong Nanshan, the research team led by Professor Zhao Jincun of the SKLRD worked with National Key Laboratory of Biosafety Detection (P3 Laboratory) to isolate a 2019-nCoV strain from the urine specimen of a COVID-19 patient. The sample of urine specimen was provided by the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.

Picture 1. Cytopathy caused by the virus

Left: Reference cells

Right: nCoV-2019-28#

The research team has managed to isolate a 2019-nCoV strain from Vero E6 cell and has finished the genome sequencing and virological identification of virus.

Picture 2. Indirect immunofluorescence identification

Left: nCoV-2019-28#

Right: reference cell

The above research has proven that live viruses exist in the urine of the patient. Considering the earlier discovery in the isolation of virus from feces, citizens are alerted to pay more attention to their personal and family’s hygiene. To name some examples, wash hands after a visit to the toilet, guarantee that the sewer pipes are smooth, and cover the toilet at the time of flush to avoid any possible spread of the virus.

The isolation of virus strain from the patient’s urine can provide important information for China to develop prevention and control strategies for the COVID-19 and is important to the public hygiene and safety prevention and control.