KYOTO: Japanese precision equipment maker Shimadzu Corp. said Friday it has developed a compact polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test device for the novel coronavirus that can produce results in as little as 90 minutes.

The Kyoto-based company has started selling the fully automated device to small and midsize hospitals and quarantine stations.

The device, 30 centimeters wide, 65 centimeters deep and 66 centimeters high, is small enough to be installed in clinics.

It can examine four samples simultaneously. Test results are displayed in graphs and reports on personal computers connected to the device.

The device is priced at 2.09 million yen, including tax. Using parts for existing products helped keep the price 50 pct to 60 pct lower than those of products from other companies with comparable testing capabilities.

Shimadzu hopes that the reasonable price will assist efforts to boost coronavirus-testing capacity in Japan.

It aims for annual sales of 3,000 units.