Researchers from Hong Kong have developed a system that can identify up to 40 types of bacteria or viruses linked to respiratory infections, including the novel coronavirus, South China Morning Post reported.

The system will help doctors in reducing time that they need to diagnose a virus in patients who have similar symptoms.

“In general, current tests can only identify one to three types of bacteria or virus at one time. If you need to check for 40 pathogens, you either get 40 people to perform tests or do the tests 40 times,” leading researcher of the project, Professor Terence Lau Lok-ting said.

In order to conduct a test the doctor has to place a patient’s specimen in the cartridge, which will then be placed inside a device for automated analysis. A report will be generated in a connected computer in around an hour.

The death toll in coronavirus has risen to 1,113, while the number of confirmed cases exceeded 44,600.