Biologists from the Altai State University in Siberia have announced that their research on a portable tester for GMO in food has culminated in the manufacture of the first product prototypes, ready to go on sale next year.

      "We are currently finishing our project. During this year we have been bringing our project to its conclusions, gaining certification, and developing technology for the long-term storage of reagents. Now our tester is a patented and certified product," said Maksim Kutsev, a doctoral student in biology at the University.

      The scientist added that their research team managed to cut the time needed to analyze for the presence of genetically modified organisms from 50 minutes to 11-25 minutes. On the whole, it took the researchers around two years to fully develop it.

      The tester is expected to weigh around one kilogram and to be 15 to 20 centimeters long. The user puts the suspect foodstuff into a cartridge, which is then placed inside the instrument for analysis. After 11-25 minutes, the test results appear on the instruments' display. The new device is set to go on sale in the New Year on the Internet and in Moscow stores of medical equipment, and will cost around 15-16 thousand rubles ($300).