The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention had tested 20 suspected cases of Ebola by the end of last month, but none of them tested positive for the lethal virus.

CDC officials made the announcement at a news conference at the center on Tuesday.

Li Dexin, a researcher at the center's Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, said China is now capable of Ebola virus screening and testing.

Testing methods include searches for nucleic acid, antigens and antibodies. The nucleic acid test is the best in terms of accuracy and efficiency, he said.

Testing for Ebola can be done only at an advanced lab at the CDC, with its high biosafety level, he said.

China is building an even more advanced lab in Wuhan, Hubei province, which will be

shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn