Coronavirus: China plans to test Wuhan blood samples from before outbreak
- Research could uncover earlier cases prior to the first known patient in December 2019
- Chinese scientist says it can only begin once a two-year statutory storage period has passed
The research will be conducted in Wuhan, where Covid-19 was first identified in late 2019, and can only take place once a two-year statutory blood storage period has passed, according to scientist Liang Wannian, who led Chinese experts during a WHO-backed inquiry into the origins of the virus earlier this year.
But it remains unclear whether other stored blood samples from the surrounding province or elsewhere in the country will also be screened or preserved for research after the two-year period is up.
Liang said the testing of stored blood samples could help identify Covid-19 infections prior to the first known patient, a case recorded on December 8, 2019. This case is not considered to be “patient zero”.
“The Chinese side is currently organising relevant experts and organisations to prepare for such work and we are formulating the methods and implementation plan for the blood testing in advance,” Liang said. “When the blood samples can be tested after the storage period, we will carry out the relevant testing and share any outcomes with Chinese and foreign experts.”
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Before the end of the period the samples could only be used to settle medical or legal disputes, for example if there was a question of blood contamination following a transfusion, Liang said.