Zhong Nanshan: Early Detection and Isolation Are Crucial; Wuhan KingMed Diagnostics to Scale Daily Testing Capacity from 1,000 to Over 5,000

At present, the frontline of the fight against the epidemic in Hubei Province is under immense pressure, with one major challenge being that current nucleic acid testing capacity for the virus remains insufficient to meet the substantial demands of epidemic prevention and control. To better support Hubei’s epidemic control efforts, on February 3, the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health and the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases urgently decided to establish the “Wuhan Branch for Viral Diagnostic Research of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases” at KingMed Diagnostics in Wuhan, thereby further enhancing local viral diagnostic capabilities and contributing to China’s victory in the battle against the epidemic. On February 4, Academician Zhong Nanshan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, via video link, ceremonially conferred the plaque upon the Wuhan Branch for Viral Diagnostic Research, emphasizing that “early detection and early isolation of patients are more important than anything else.”

Zhong Nanshan has high hopes for the sub-center. He stated that the entire nation is currently working together and fighting jointly to prevent and control the epidemic of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus infection. As the epicenter of the outbreak, Wuhan’s most critical tasks are the early detection and early isolation of patients, which are more important than treatment or any other measures. He expressed his hope that Wuhan KingMed, as a member of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, would live up to expectations, demonstrate courage, and excel in the crucial work of early detection and early diagnosis, thereby contributing to Wuhan’s victory in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

He Jianxing, Dean of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, also sent a video message stating that KingMed Diagnostics’ ability to rise to the occasion and join forces in winning the battle against the epidemic is commendable. He expressed hope that this close collaboration will elevate China’s research and clinical treatment capabilities in the field of respiratory diseases to an internationally leading level.

Liang Yaoming, Chairman and CEO of KingMed Diagnostics Group, stated that at this critical juncture in the fight against the epidemic, the company’s viral testing team on the front lines in Wuhan has gained greater confidence and assurance from the empowerment and guidance provided by national-level teams, including the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health and the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease. KingMed is committed to fully leveraging its advantages in viral testing and networked services, collaborating closely with experts from the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health to tackle key challenges. These joint efforts aim not only to defeat the current outbreak but also to elevate China’s overall capacity for the prevention and control of respiratory viruses.

In September 2018, with the care and support of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health and Academician Zhong Nanshan, KingMed Diagnostics established the Clinical Respiratory Virus Diagnosis and Translation Center. Academician Zhong Nanshan personally served as its director, and the center was designated as the “Virus Diagnostic Research Center of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases.” One of the original intentions behind establishing this center was to enable it to play a crucial role in responding to acute and sudden infectious disease outbreaks.

Currently, the entire nation is making every effort to win the battle against the epidemic. In particular, the epidemic prevention and control efforts in Hubei Province have deeply concerned people across China. However, Wuhan’s frontline once faced a severe shortage of testing kits. First, it was essential to rapidly identify positive cases to prevent the widespread dissemination of the source of infection. Second, suspected cases needed to be diagnosed as quickly as possible to ensure they received effective and appropriate treatment, thereby reducing social panic. Third, patients whose clinical manifestations had already met the discharge criteria were required to undergo two rounds of testing, with both results needing to be negative before discharge, thus freeing up hospital beds for other patients in need.

To expedite the detection and confirmation of patients, on January 27, the Health Commission of Hubei Province issued the "Notice on Further Strengthening Provincial Nucleic Acid Testing for Novel Coronavirus," officially incorporating KingMed Diagnostics’ Hubei subsidiary, Wuhan KingMed, and other third-party medical testing institutions into the network of service providers for novel coronavirus nucleic acid testing in Hubei Province.

Leveraging the technical strengths of its Virus Diagnostic Research Center, KingMed Diagnostics has fully supported Wuhan’s active participation in local epidemic prevention and control efforts. Currently, KingMed Diagnostics has mobilized resources nationwide to establish a specialized PCR testing team for the front lines in Wuhan, conducting nucleic acid testing for the novel coronavirus with a daily testing capacity exceeding 1,000 samples. As of January 31, the total daily testing capacity across Hubei Province reached 4,000 samples. The center has undertaken initial screening tasks for the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Tianmen, Jingmen, Jingzhou, and Xiaonan District of Xiaogan, among other locations.

Currently, KingMed Diagnostics is mobilizing resources across the entire group to fully support epidemic prevention and control efforts in Hubei Province. Li Huiyuan, General Manager of KingMed Diagnostics’ Central-South Region, stated that KingMed Wuhan will prioritize ensuring testing capacity, quality, speed, and employee safety, while continuously increasing daily testing volume to meet the needs of the front lines of the anti-epidemic effort in Hubei.

Following the establishment of the “Wuhan Branch for Viral Diagnosis Research under the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases,” Wuhan KingMed will assist the medical personnel from the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health currently stationed at Wuhan Hankou Hospital, Jinyintan Hospital, and Union Hospital. It will support these hospitals in conducting viral nucleic acid testing. Meanwhile, Wuhan KingMed will further intensify its efforts in epidemic control by rapidly integrating resources and equipment from other provincial laboratories of KingMed Diagnostics, optimizing testing methodologies, and gradually increasing daily testing capacity from 1,000 to over 5,000 cases, thereby enabling the processing of a larger volume of samples each day. Additionally, Wuhan KingMed will establish sustainable diagnostic capabilities for respiratory viral infections covering the entire Hubei Province, making greater contributions to the prevention and control of respiratory viral infections in Hubei and across China.