Colombia's National Health Institute has developed the first coronavirus diagnostic test in Latin America.

The test allows potential victims to be diagnosed in less than eight hours.

It was developed in one of the 12 laboratories of Colombia's National Health Institute.

This means Colombia will no longer have to send samples to the United States to confirm a coronavirus infection.

The South American nation is now offering support to other countries in the region.

"All of the countries of the region that have the capabilities to diagnose will be trained soon by the Pan American Health organization. We believe in the coming week or week and a half," said Marta Lucia Ospina of Colombia's National Health Institute.

"For those countries in the region, some in Central America who don't have the capabilities to diagnose we will be able to collaborate with diagnosis – as we have done with other illnesses."