Abstract: OBJECTIVE To study the principles of detection of nucleic acid of 2019-nCoV in medical laboratory, explore the value of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR in laboratory detection of 2019-nCoV, and understand the matters that need the attention. METHODS From Jan. 23, 2020 to Feb. 2, 2020 the throat swab specimens of the patients of fever clinic and the screened people who had the history of travelling or living in Hubei Province were detected in Hainan Hospital, PLA General Hospital by using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the two genes, 2019-nCoV open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and nucleoprotein (N) gene, were detected with the use of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. RESULTS Of totally 3 824 specimens, 35 were positive, with the positive rate 0.91%. CONCLUSION It is very necessary to conduct the screening test of nucleic acid of 2019-nCoV for the patients of fever clinic and the people who have the history of travelling or living in Hubei Province during the epidemic, the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR is a scientific and reliable approach for detection of 2019-nCoV, it can detect the nucleic acid rapidly and accurately and has great significance in monitoring and control of the epidemic.