Singapore: Japan-based Hitachi and Kyushu University recently announced plans to develop a new device that can detect cancer in less than an hour. The test would be based on reaction of a certain group of worms towards the urine of cancer patients, said Hitachi in a statement.

According to a Japanese report, in a recent study, 300 people were tested with accuracy in 90 percent of the cases. Hitachi said in a statement that, with the help of researchers from the university, the company aims to commercialize the device by 2018.

Hitachi further added the test would be cost-effective as well as less time-consuming as each test would cost around $0.84 and would take nearly an hour. The team however, said that the device had its limitations as it cannot detect the types of cancer and a positive detection will need additional conventional tests.