A　TaqMan　probe　real-time　quantitative　PCR　(RT-qPCR)　approach　was　developed　for　rapid　identification　of　SARS-CoV-2　main　variants.　Specific　primers　and　probes　were　designed　based　on　the　sequence　of　the　SARS-CoV-2　wild　and　main　variants　alpha　(N501Y,　HV69-70del),　beta　(E484K,　K417N),　gamma　(K417T,　V1176F),　delta　(L452R,　T478K)　and　omicron　(H655Y,　N679K,　P681H)　genes.　The　specificity,　sensitivity　and　performance　of　the　RT-qPCR　assay　were　tested.　The　assay　can　identify　SARS-CoV-2　wild　type　and　main　variants　efficiently,　and　has　no　crossover　with　a　panel　of　respiratory　pathogens　(n=21),　showing　high　specificity　toward　SARS-CoV-2　RNA.　The　assay＇s　sensitivity　was　determined　to　be　2×102　copies/mL.　In　summary,　we　developed　a　simple,　rapid　and　cost-effective　RT-qPCR　assay　that　enables　identification　of　SARS-CoV-2　main　variants.　It　can　be　used　to　monitor　the　variation　of　SARS-CoV-2　strain　for　accurate　identification,　prevention　and　control　of　outbreaks.　©　2022,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.