(Yicai Global) Sept. 5 -- A team of researchers led by professor He Jiankui at the Southern University of Science and Technology has successfully developed Asia's first third-generation DNA sequencer, GenoCare, and mass production of the device has already started.

GenoCare is one of the most accurate third-generation gene sequencers available in the world today, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology said in an online press briefing. The product has been commercialized and can be used in clinical tests.

Most DNA sequencing devices in China were imported in the past and Chinese hospitals and businesses paid tens of billions of yuan every year to buy reagents from European and American companies, the ministry added. Second-generation DNA sequencing technology is now widely applied across the world, while the third-generation device market remains in a fledgling stage.

The development of the device is a major technical breakthrough and will significantly improve cost-effectiveness, speed and quality of gene sequencing, newspaper Nanfang Daily quoted Professor He as saying when he released the findings on July 31.

DNA sequencing using second-generation devices costs USD1,000. Genocare allows sequencing in large volumes and device is expected to be capable of creating DNA identification cards for just USD100 each by 2019.