London, October 1 : Singapore-based scientists have devised a new technique to spot bird flu in humans with the help of a magnet.

Jurgen Pipper of the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology claims that their test is nearly five times faster and up to 50 times cheaper than the existing tests.

The researcher says that one of the hindrances that scientists often face, while testing the virus in human sputum, is that the sputum sample has to be concentrated before its RNA can be amplified and compared with known H5N1 sequences, reports the New Scientist.

Jurgen has revealed that the new technique involves the use of silica particles to bind viral RNA, which can then be concentrated within minutes using a magnet.

A report on the test has been published in the journal Nature Medicine. (With inputs from ANI)