Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 16.8.2021.

Please find our reply as below:

The methods of SARS-CoV-2 variants detection used in PHLSB include 1)
RT-PCR, 2) Sanger sequencing and/or 3) whole genome sequencing.

Yours sincerely,
(CHAN Che-wa)
for Director of Health

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From:        Allyson van de Pol <[FOI #715 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        16/08/2021 15:14
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - How Does The PCR Test
Discover the Variant of SARS-CoV-2

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Dear Department of Health,

Can you please tell me how the PCR Test Discover the Variant of SARS-CoV-2
in a patient's sample.

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #715 email]

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to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
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References

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Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 18.8.2021.

Please find our reply as below:

RT-PCR, Sanger sequencing and whole genome sequencing differentiate the
SARS-CoV-2 variant(s) from the wild-type according to the genetic
sequence.

Yours sincerely,
(CHAN Che-wa)
for Director of Health

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:        Allyson van de Pol <[FOI #715 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        18/08/2021 13:28
Subject:        Re: *Restricted: Re: Fw: Freedom of Information request -
How Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of SARS-CoV-2

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Dear Department of Health,

Thank you, but how do these tests determine variants of SARS-CoV-2 from
the original?

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

顯示引用部分

Re-send (delivery failure):

Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 27.8.2021.

Please find our reply as below:

Variants of SARS CoV2, such as Delta variants, contain spike gene
mutation(s) that could be detected by 1) RT-PCR, 2) Sanger sequencing
and/or 3) whole genome sequencing.

Yours sincerely,
(CHAN Che-wa)
for Director of Health

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:        Raymond CW CHAN/DH/HKSARG
To:        Allyson van de Pol <[索取資料要求電郵#715]>
Cc:        Francis YM CHING/DH/HKSARG@DH
Date:        02/09/2021 17:36
Subject:        *Restricted: Re: Fw: Freedom of Information request - How
Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of SARS-CoV-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 27.8.2021.

Please find our reply as below:

Variants of SARS CoV2, such as Delta variants, contain spike gene
mutation(s) that could be detected by 1) RT-PCR, 2) Sanger sequencing
and/or 3) whole genome sequencing.

Yours sincerely,
(CHAN Che-wa)
for Director of Health

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:        Allyson van de Pol <[索取資料要求電郵#715]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[衞生署供索取資料的電郵]>
Date:        27/08/2021 14:27
Subject:        Re: *Restricted: Re: Fw: Freedom of Information request -
How Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of SARS-CoV-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,

Thanks, but how does it tell the difference between 'original' SARS Cov-2
and other variants, for example the Delta variant. What differences are
detected?

Thank you

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

顯示引用部分

I am out of the office until 08/12/2021.

For urgent matters, please contact Miss Jackie LAM, CO(Per)4 at 3107 2571 /
&DH/CO[Per]4.

Note: This is an automated response to your message "Internal review of
Freedom of Information request - How Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant
of SARS-CoV-2" sent on 16.09.2021 07:33:48 PM.

This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away.

Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 16.9.2021 and 22.9.2021 for seeking additional
information.

Please find our reply as below:

Variants of SARS CoV2 contain spike gene mutation(s) that could be
detected by 1) RT-PCR, 2) Sanger sequencing and/or 3) whole genome
sequencing.
For more information on different variants, please refers to below World
Health Organization (WHO)
website [1]https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracki....

Yours sincerely,
(CHAN Che-wa)
for Director of Health

From:        Allyson van de Pol <[FOI #715 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        16/09/2021 19:38
Subject:        Internal review of Freedom of Information request - How
Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of SARS-CoV-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,

Thank you, however you've given me the same answer twice and haven't
explained to me how variants are differentiated from 'original' SARS CoV2.
Please explains.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

顯示引用部分

Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 24.9.2021 for seeking additional information.

Please find our reply as below:

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 belong to different lineages and variants that
caused particular concern so far, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta
have multiple mutations, including several in the spike gene that can be
used to differentiate from the genetic information of the first SARS-CoV-2
strain identified in December 2019.
For instance, variant Alpha belongs to Pango lineage B.1.1.7 and carries
the key mutation N501Y in the Spike protein, which can help to
differentiate from the genetic information of the first strain.
The difference could be detected by 1) RT-PCR, 2) Sanger sequencing and/or
3) whole genome sequencing.

Yours sincerely,
(CHAN Che-wa)
for Director of Health

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:        Allyson van de Pol <[FOI #715 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        24/09/2021 17:43
Subject:        Internal review of Freedom of Information request - How
Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of SARS-CoV-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,

You have now given me the same answer three times, by law you are required
to answer my question to the best of your ability.

Please answer how different variants are differentiated from original SARS
coV-2. If there is no difference, then please advise accordingly.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

顯示引用部分

Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 29.9.2021 for seeking additional information.

Please find our reply as below:

No. The SARS-CoV-2 variants have not been isolated without Vero cell line
or cancer cells or antibiotics in PHLSB.

Yours sincerely,
(LEE Chi-kui Benjamin)
for Director of Health

From:        Allyson van de Pol <[FOI #715 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        29/09/2021 15:25
Subject:        Re: *Restricted: Re: Fw: Internal review of Freedom of
Information request - How Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of
SARS-CoV-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,

Thank you.

Have these subsequent variants been isolated (ie not mixed with vero or
cancer cells or antibiotics)?

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

顯示引用部分

Dear Allyson van de Po,
Interim reply letter
Code on Access to Information
Re：PHLS COA 8/2021
                        Our department has received your application for
access to information on 08.10.2021.  Your application is now under
processing.  According to paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to
Information, our department will inform you of the latest progress of the
case separately on or before 28.10.2021.  In the meantime, please contact
me at 2319 8404 if you have any enquiry.

Yours sincerely,

(LEE Chi-kui Benjamin)
for Director of Health

From:        Allyson van de Pol <[FOI #715 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        08/10/2021 18:59
Subject:        Re: *Restricted: Re: Re: Fw: Internal review of Freedom of
Information request - How Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of
SARS-CoV-2

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Dear Department of Health,

Thanks very much.

As The Delta variant hasn't been isolated, can you please let me know if
Koch's or River's postulates have been used to show that the Delta variant
cause Covid 19?

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

顯示引用部分

Dear Allyson van de Pol,

Thank you for your email on 8.10.2021.

Please find our reply as below:

PHLSB provides laboratory services in detecting the presence or absence of
SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including Delta variant, in a particular specimen.  The
result will be sent to the requesting doctor, the Centre for Health
Protection and the Hospital Authority for clinical correlation and the
interpretation of result.

Yours sincerely,
(LEE Chi-kui Benjamin)
for Director of Health

From:        Allyson van de Pol <[索取資料要求電郵#715]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[衞生署供索取資料的電郵]>
Date:        08/10/2021 18:59
Subject:        Re: *Restricted: Re: Re: Fw: Internal review of Freedom of
Information request - How Does The PCR Test Discover the Variant of
SARS-CoV-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,

Thanks very much.

As The Delta variant hasn't been isolated, can you please let me know if
Koch's or River's postulates have been used to show that the Delta variant
cause Covid 19?

Yours faithfully,

Allyson van de Pol

顯示引用部分