The technology works by identifying molecules from a swab of human saliva or animal tissue, before identifying with what kind of bird flu strain it is infected, researchers said.
Current testing takes two to three days to identify the strain responsible for suspected cases of bird flu, or up to a week in countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam, which are most affected by the virus.
The portable device is the size of a briefcase. It can be used at the scene of a suspected outbreak, making it possible to set up exclusion zones or cull infected birds before the virus has a chance to spread.
The Ł2.3 million ($5 million) project, known as Portfastflu, is being funded by the European Union. So far, tens of millions of birds have died or been slaughtered as a result of bird flu in Asia and beyond.
