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Updated: Oct 1, 2025
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain Antibody using a HiBiT-Based Bioreporter
Published on: August 12, 2021
Early detection of community acquired of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.351 in Hong Kong
Alan K L Tsang1, Gannon C K Mak1, Peter K C Cheng1
1All from Microbiology Division, Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, 9/F, Public Health Laboratory center, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Background:
Prior to this report, variants of concern for SARS-CoV-2 were only detected from imported cases in Hong Kong.
Objective:
Multiple cases of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.351 have been identified in local community. We reported the phylogenetic relationship of these cases.
Study Design:
SARS-CoV-2 cases were screened for the key non-synonymous substitutions in spike protein by different assays. Preliminary positive cases were further tested by whole genome sequencing.
Results:
From Dec 2020 to May 2021, 55 SARS-CoV-2 cases belonged to lineage B.1.351. Among them, eight genomes were clustered together, all of them were local cases with epidemiological link.
Conclusions:
To track variants of SARS-CoV-2 and to allow early implementation of control measures, SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance must be consistently performed.
