Soda fans misty for New England's classic Moxie, Kentucky's Ale-8-1 or Michigan favorite Vernors Ginger Ale can get their fix via Virginia Beach-based online retailer, the aptly named The Hard To Find Grocer.

CNN: Regional flavors may be a click away

Moreover, big-box stores find themselves increasingly hard pressed to compete with online retailers ever since consumers became comfortable with buying big-ticket electronic products via the Internet (think Amazon).

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With employment and technological trends likely to draw a growing number of competitors into the online marketplace, the largest, least-nimble firms will find it hard to keep pace.

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Dr Helen Lee, who led the research, told BBC News Online the new test could be used in the developing world, where people may find it hard to access healthcare, and in developed countries, where up to half those tested do not come back for their results.

BBC: NEWS | Health | 'Instant test' for sex disease