Abstract: A novel detection method for hepatitis A virus (HAV) was developed to meet the rapid detection needs, based on reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) technology combined with lateral flow strips (LFS). Genotype Ⅰ-Ⅲ sequences of HAV were downloaded from the GenBank nucleotide database, and genetic typing and analysis were conducted to design primers and probes of RT-RPA. This method could complete HAV detection within 20 minutes at 42 ℃, with a sensitivity of 10 copies/μL, exhibiting high specificity, no cross-reactivity with other enteric viruses, and a repeatability of 71.4%. Compared to traditional RT-qPCR technology, this method demonstrated greater sensitivity and easier operation. The establishment of the RT-RPA-LFS detection technology provided technical support for on-site rapid diagnosis of HAV, which was of great significance for improving the efficiency of HAV detection and preventing and controlling foodborne outbreaks caused by HAV. With widespread HAV vaccine use, the development of this detection technology has potential applications for distinguishing vaccine strains from wild strains, as well as meeting the future needs for multiplex virus detection, providing new technical approaches for food safety monitoring and public health fields.

Key words: hepatitis A Virus, RT-RPA-LFS, sensitivity, specificity, on-site diagnosis