Eluted RNA was screened for the MERS-CoV upstream region of the E gene (upE region) and confirmed by targeting the open reading frame region ORF1a and ORF1b with the use of real-time RT-PCR, as described previously.
Further confirmation
was performed by partially sequencing the RNA-dependent
RNA polymerase (RdRp) and nucleocapsid
(N) regions of the viral genome, as recommended
by the World Health Organization. Both assays were conducted on the original
samples collected from the patient and from
Camel B. (Details regarding the RT-PCR assay
and sequencing are provided in the Supplementary
Appendix.)