A new device to test coronavirus has been developed by a New Zealand firm.

Ubiquitome, based in the Auckland suburb of Albany, is trialling a handheld mobile device and app that could test for the virus in hospitals, schools, factories and homes anywhere in the world.

It's able to test swab samples in 40 minutes.

Ubiquitome Chief Executive Dr Paul Pickering told Mike Hosking it could be a useful tool.

He says the sooner you can detect the virus, the better the response will be and it will be easier to lock it down.

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