Dr Yadveer Grewal is running the research project and says simple baker’s yeast is behind the “game-changing” new technology.

“The key of our test, compared to other tests, is we are looking at live active infectious virus,” Dr Grewal told Today.

“The other tests on the market are excellent, all good tests, but they can’t discriminate between live virus or dead virus.

“We want to combine our reagent with a low-cost test that can be used at bed side – so we combined it with a strip technology that you often find in pregnancy test strips.

“That way someone could have a nasal swab taken, apply it to a strip and within five to 15 minutes, depending on how infectious they are, get a result then and there.”

Dr Grewal said with recent reports of rapid tests returning in accurate results like false positiveTs and negatives, it was important the test used be high-quality.

“A really high-quality test like a PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) lab test is the best, because you get tested once and go away.”

“If you are a doctor or nurse going to hospital, a test like ours could allow you to be tested at the beginning of each shift and get a result,” he said.

“Testing yourself every couple of days is about equivalent to having a once-off high quality specific test from a lab.”

If successful, the test could cost as little as a cup of coffee and be a complete game-changer in the fight against coronavirus.

Dr Grewal said the Australian government is working with US health authorities and the test could be available by the end of the year.

“We are hoping to have our trials completed by the end of this year and ideally then we are able to manufacture immediately and distribute it,” he said.