This photo taken from the official website of the Chinese University of Hong Kong shows (from left) Paul Chan, chairman of the Department of Microbiology of CUHK Medicine, Francis Chan, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Director of the Centre for Gut Microbiota Research, and David Hui, chairman of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CU Medicine, hosting a press briefing at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, March 17, 2020. 

HONG KONG - The Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine) said Tuesday that it would test the stool samples of 100 people in quarantine centers in a bid to find out asymptomatic patients. 

READ MORE: HKU shares quick COVID-19 testing technology with the world

The program came after a new study of CU Medicine found that coronavirus was present in the fecal samples of infected patients, regardless of the degree of illness.

The program came after a new study of CU Medicine found that coronavirus was present in the fecal samples of infected patients, regardless of the degree of illness

Researchers studied more than 300 stool samples from 14 COVID-19 patients in Hong Kong, and found the virus in three stool samples of patients whose sputum samples and deep throat saliva samples were free of the virus. 

Paul Chan Sheung-kay, chairman of the Department of Microbiology at CU Medicine, said that stool samples can be used as another detection tool in the community for early detection of patients who do not develop respiratory symptoms or when their respiratory samples are tested “false negative”. 

READ MORE: Experts: Novel coronavirus may spread via digestive system

Chan added that sputum samples were still the ideal test for suspected cases with respiratory symptoms. The team also found that sputum samples contained the highest concentration of virus -- 300 times more than deep throat saliva samples and stool samples. 

The research team also found that the amount of virus in blood samples of confirmed patients was too low to be confirmed positive and all urine samples were virus free.

David Hui Shu-cheong, chairman of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Stanley Ho, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at CU Medicine, said that virus shedding in stool could transmit if people touch their eyes, nose and mouth after touching the contaminated surface.

He reminded the public to stay alert on hand hygiene, close the toilet lid when they flush, and fill water regularly into U-shaped water traps connected to bathroom floor drains.