The non-invasive test, which takes only minutes to perform, looks at heart beat variations.

Professor Brian Pollard and Dr Chris Pomfrett, of Manchester Royal Infirmary, say their test could be used to detect the disease in a living person even before they start to show symptoms.

At present, there is no accurate test for the disease. However, researchers in Germany are hopeful that they are close to developing an effective blood test.

The test concentrates on the variations of the heart beats because this can be used to indicate brain activity in the brain stem, which is affected by vCJD.

Monitor

In addition, they can also use the monitoring of a patient's breathing through a face mask to get a speedier diagnosis.

Dr Pomfrett said: "The results are very encouraging.

"If everything goes well we expect a commercial product in about a years time."

They studied about 40 people of the human study, about 20 were suspected vCJD cases. This study is still awaiting validation.

He said they had also developed a test for animals, which could soon be used by vets to monitor and diagnose animals.

The researchers carried out their two-year-study on 133 cattle and are ready to publish this data.

Dr Pomfrett said that although there is currently no cure for vCJD that a diagnosis could enable people with the disease to try experimental drugs at the earliest possible opportunity.

If everything goes well we expect a commercial product in about a years time

Dr Chris Pomfrett

"By having a test that improves diagnosis you can say to people that it looking more likely that you have this disease. You can then put them on the more powerful drugs which have side effects."

"It is certainly the only prospective and live test which does not need chemicals and does not need to send data away. It takes about five seconds to check the data and will save a lot of money.

Test

He added that because the test is non-invasive it can also be carried out repeatedly without any harm to the patient.

Dr Pomfrett said their test would prove vital if any large scale tests are to be carried out on seemingly healthy people.

Earlier this month, Professor Stan Prusiner, who discovered the cause of BSE, said all Britons should be tested for the disease.