China SARS tests inconclusive

BEIJING, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- China will send samples from a suspected SARS patient to an international laboratory for more testing, CNN reported Wednesday.

Local experts were unable to confirm a case of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The World Health Organization said previous tests carried out on the man had proved inconclusive and that China's Ministry of Health would send samples to a WHO network lab.

The move is set to delay the diagnosis of the male patient who remains isolated in hospital after showing SARS-like symptoms, CNN said.

The man developed a fever Dec. 16 and was hospitalized four days later with pneumonia.

It is China's first suspected SARS case since July.

The man's condition was good and "his temperature has been normal for the past several days," a WHO statement said.

SARS has no known treatment and little is known of its origins other than it first appeared in Guangdong province in November last year.

The virus killed 774 people worldwide and sickened nearly 8,100 before subsiding in June.