Patent ID: 8057993

Claim:
A multiplex polymerase chain reaction method for identifying a coronavirus, comprising: a) providing a sample suspected of comprising one or more coronavirus family members, wherein the identity of said coronavirus family members is unknown; b) providing coronavirus RNA from said sample, wherein the identity of the coronavirus source of said coronavirus RNA is unknown; c) providing corresponding DNA from said RNA wherein said DNA comprises sequences encoding at least a portion of a nsp11 gene and at least a portion of a RdRp gene; d) amplifying said DNA to produce first and second amplification products using two or more oligonucleotide primer pairs, wherein said first amplification product comprises sequences encoding at least a portion of said nsp11 gene and said second amplification product comprises sequences encoding at least a portion of said RdRp gene; e) determining the base compositions of said first and second amplification products by mass spectrometry without sequencing said first and second amplification products, wherein said base compositions identifies the number of A residues, C residues, T residues, G residues, U residues, analogs thereof and mass tag residues thereof in said first and second amplification products; f) comparing said base compositions of said first and second amplification products to calculated or measured base compositions of corresponding amplification products of one or more known coronaviruses present in a database with the proviso that sequencing of said first and second amplification products is not used to identify said coronavirus, wherein a match between said determined base compositions and said calculated or measured base composition in said database identifies the identity of said one or more coronavirus family members in said sample; and g) determining the identity of said one or more coronavirus family members by identifying a match between said determined based compositions and said calculated or measured base composition in said database.