The NSW Health department has announced it has produced two full genome sequences for the coronavirus, based on extensive tests of the remaining isolated patient at Westmead hospital.
There are 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, four of them in NSW, with the others in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
Three of the four patients in NSW have been cleared.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazard said doctors have been able to carry out extensive testing on the remaining patient to produce a "research breakthrough".
Researchers have been able to isolate the virus and study eight variants, to produce two full genome sequences, he said.
The results will be shared with the WHO which will aid efforts in developing a vaccine.
"That is an incredible outcome for the WHO to come to grips with this virus, particularly as it is such a new virus," Mr Hazzard said.
Professor Dominic Dwyer, from NSW Health Pathology, said the work confirms the tests are working well.
"We can also make a contribution in terms of understanding how the virus is changing around the world and how similar it is to other viruses around the world. And so we put our genetic sequences up on the WHO site for people to compare," he said.
"Also by having an isolate we help other laboratories in NSW and elsewhere to develop the right sorts of tests; and we can potentially help vaccine manufacturers."
An advance team of international experts led by the World Health Organisation has left for Beijing to help investigate China's coronavirus epidemic.
WHO veteran Dr Bruce Aylward, a Canadian epidemiologist and emergencies expert, will lead the mission.
Mainland China has reported another rise in new cases of the coronavirus, with the number of deaths at 908.
China's health ministry said the number of those infected stands at 40,171.
More than 360 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China.
