Chinese scientists will begin selecting volunteers for clinical tests of a SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) vaccine.

The State Drug Administration (SDA) authorized Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech Co Ltd to select volunteers for its vaccine research, Cao Wenzhuang, director of the Department of Drug Regulation, told China Daily yesterday.

The SDA sets only the standard number of volunteers needed for the first clinical test of the vaccine, Cao said.

However, Cao's department does not select the actual volunteers.

The SARS vaccine created by the Sinovac Biotech Co Ltd and two other research institutes -- including Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention -- got the go ahead for further clinical tests late last year.

Sinovac spokespeople did not confirm yesterday how many volunteers are needed or if the process has started.

The research team has drawn up an implementation plan for the clinical research of a SARS vaccine.

Cao said his department has approved only one institute, which is Sinovac.

The first phase of the testing will last for three months in either Beijing, South China's Guangdong Province or neighbouring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The volunteers will comprise 15 men and 15 women between the ages of 18 and 40. They will go through medical examinations and clinical observations.

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