The method, called the Enzyme Link Immuno Adsorbent Assay (ELISA), could detect the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus within one hour, according to Yang Huanming, director of the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Yang said the current estimated daily production of the test kit could meet the demands of 10,000 people, and the output is expected to grow greatly to 100,000 a day soon.

Prior to the ELISA, China had already developed an assay that could detect the SARS virus within two hours, called the Immuno Fluorescence Assay (IFA).

Compared with IFA, ELISA was more convenient to operate and less costly, Yang said.

He said the report on the method had been submitted to China's medical authority for approval.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2003)