Omicron virus has strong concealment and rapid transmission, and nucleic acid detection is a necessary means of “dynamic zeroing”
From March 1 to 31, China reported more than 100000 cases of local covid-19 virus infection, affecting 29 provinces. The main virus strain in this round is the Omicron variant strain, which shows new characteristics such as strong infectivity, concealed transmission, fast transmission speed and short incubation period. The clinical manifestations of infected persons are mainly asymptomatic and mild, and the difficulty of case discovery is significantly improved. At present, China’s covid-19 epidemic prevention policy is “dynamic clearing”, and its core is rapid response and accurate prevention and control. The rapid response is reflected in rapid detection, rapid disposal and rapid blocking. The existing rapid detection methods are mainly through nucleic acid and antigen detection. Nucleic acid is the gold standard. Nucleic acid under background large-scale screening is a more effective means of rapid detection. Specifically, 1) in areas where the epidemic has spread, Full staff nucleic acid detection has become a necessary means to cut off the spread as soon as possible, prevent the spread and prevent the spread. 2) In areas where there is no epidemic spread, key personnel shall be regularly tested for nucleic acid to prevent the occurrence of new epidemics. 3) Routine control of public places, such as the current requirement of Shenzhen to enter and leave all kinds of public places and take public transport, must present the negative certificate of 72 hour nucleic acid test.
The nucleic acid detection capacity of various regions has been continuously improved. As of March 13, 2022, a total of 12400 institutions in China have carried out covid-19 virus nucleic acid detection services, and the overall nucleic acid detection capacity of a single tube can reach 46.09 million tubes / day. According to the latest guidelines for the implementation of regional New Coronavirus nucleic acid detection Organization (Third Edition), we further clarify the requirements for nucleic acid detection in different regions. The urban areas with more than 10 million of the city’s resident population need to complete the regional nucleic acid detection tasks within 24 hours. At present, the nucleic acid detection capacity of all regions still needs to be continuously improved. For example, in this round of Shanghai epidemic, the single day detection capacity of nucleic acid detection in the early stage is more than 1.9 million tubes. As of April 5, with the strong support of the central government and brother provinces and cities, about 20000 sampling points have been set up in Shanghai, and the maximum single day nucleic acid detection capacity has reached 4 million tubes.
Taking Shenzhen as an example, nucleic acid detection may become a routine measure after the social aspect is dynamically cleared
Covid-19 epidemic broke out in a small scale in Shenzhen in February 2021. Convenient nucleic acid sampling points were set up on March 3. Three rounds of nucleic acid screening in the whole city were carried out on March 13. On March 20, Shenzhen began to restore the order of social production and life in an orderly manner, and required to continue to strengthen the control of community communities (access must be subject to the negative certificate of 48 hour nucleic acid test) Continue to strengthen the control of public places (access to all kinds of public places and public transport must be accompanied by a 48 hour nucleic acid test negative certificate). In April 6th, the Shenzhen New Coronavirus pneumonia epidemic prevention and control command (Notice No. 2022] 5 required that the community community and public places should be kept in control, access to all kinds of public places, public transport and so on, with 72 hours of negative nucleic acid testing. At present, Shenzhen has built a “15 minute walk nucleic acid service circle”, and set up one convenient nucleic acid sampling point for every 30000 people. With the idea of “mainly fixed sampling points + small mobile convenient sampling points”, the peak reached 2501 sampling points on March 18, and most nucleic acid sampling points are still preserved. As of April 3, there were 1703 sampling points.
Antigen detection is an important supplementary means. After background screening, antigen may be a means of continuous monitoring
Antigen detection is an important supplement to nucleic acid detection. When the ability of nucleic acid detection is insufficient, cases or potential patients can be found earlier and isolated in time through antigen detection. Although antigen detection has a certain gap compared with nucleic acid in sensitivity and specificity, it has advantages in human investment and detection speed. In the prevention and control of the epidemic in Shanghai, antigen detection highlighted the role of screening. Antigen detection was carried out in the whole city on April 3. After nucleic acid screening in the whole city on April 4, antigen detection was carried out in residential areas without positive infection from April 1 to April 5 on April 6. Other provinces and cities are also gradually promoting antigen testing and screening. On April 4, Sanya carried out covid-19 antigen testing for all citizens and tourists.
Investment suggestion: combined with the characteristics of Omicron strain at present, we expect that under the dynamic clearing prevention and control strategy, the detection demand of covid-19 is still large, and companies in relevant fields may have theme investment opportunities. It is suggested to pay attention to relevant targets: 1) the third-party medical laboratory providing nucleic acid detection services: Guangzhou Kingmed Diagnostics Group Co.Ltd(603882) , Dian Diagnostics Group Co.Ltd(300244) and Guangdong Hybribio Biotech Co.Ltd(300639) ; 2) Nucleic acid detection kit: Bgi Genomics Co.Ltd(300676) , Sansure Biotech Inc(688289) , Daan Gene Co.Ltd(002030) , Jiangsu Bioperfectus Technologies Co.Ltd(688399) , Wuhan Easy Diagnosis Biomedicine Co.Ltd(002932) ; 3) Antigen detection kit: Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co.Ltd(300482) , Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co.Ltd(688298) , Nanjing Vazyme Biotech Co.Ltd(688105) , Bgi Genomics Co.Ltd(300676) , Beijing Hotgen Biotech Co.Ltd(688068) , Wuhan Easy Diagnosis Biomedicine Co.Ltd(002932) , Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co.Ltd(603392) , anxiu biology, etc.
Risk tips: covid-19 epidemic situation uncertainty risk, nucleic acid detection continuity uncertainty risk, insufficient nucleic acid detection ability, etc.
