State-of-the-art diagnostic systems

Roche to present cutting-edge analytics at Medica

Roche Diagnostics presents nine new products at this year’s Medica. Three of them were the focal point of today’s launch event at which customers and visitors had a chance to find out more about state-of-the-art systems for PCR and high throughput laboratories.

"Our diagnostic systems help laboratories to streamline workflows, increase throughput and make optimum use of the space available – in a nutshell, to handle their core business more efficiently. That’s why many of our products are modular in design to facilitate integration in our customers’ own laboratory concepts,” says Jürgen Redmann, member of the Executive Board of Roche Diagnostics GmbH. The three analytical systems presented are therefore tailored to different needs: The cobas 4800 is Roche’s first analyzer to provide PCR analysis for three infection parameters in a single automated workflow. The system configuration consists of a module for fully automated, PCR-based nucleic acid processing and a real-time PCR analytical system. The post-analytical units cobas p 501 and cobas p 701 automate the storage and archiving of bar-coded samples. The cobas 8000 modular analyzer series is the new serum workstation solution for high throughput laboratories. The system covers a range from three to 15 million tests per year and thanks to a wide range of combinations can be tailored to specific needs.

Harald Borrmann, Head of Laboratory Diagnostics Sales and Dr. Uwe Oberländer, Head of Laboratory Diagnostics Marketing, spoke about the outstanding features of the new units from Roche Diagnostics GmbH. “When developing the three systems, we thought very carefully about how we could help our customers to speed up and simplify processes without com-promising safety and reliability,” said
Dr. Oberländer. “Our main concerns were the specific needs of PCR and high throughput laboratories. The outcome is a success. The new systems are state-of-the-art in terms of both performance and the technologies used.”

The cobas 4800
The cobas 4800 is the first PCR analyzer for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and for the analysis of human papilloma viruses. The system consists of two components: the cobas x 480 module for fully automated, PCR-based nucleic acid processing and the real-time PCR analytical system cobas z 480. The cobas 4800 system’s microtitre-plate format is designed for PCR labs with medium to high sample throughputs.

The cobas p 501/701
Using the post-analytical units cobas p 501 and cobas p 701, sample tubes can be stored and archived in a refrigerated zone at 4 – 8°C. The cobas p 501 has storage capacity for 13,500 tubes, and the
cobas p 701 for up to 27,000 tubes. The systems are designed for the automated storage of up to 400 tubes per hour, automated tube restopping and destopping and automated tube disposal upon expiration. All relevant storage information is available locally at the unit and can be accessed via the Laboratory Information System (LIS).

The cobas 8000 modular analyzer series
The serum workstation solution for 8,400 tests per hour is designed for high throughput laboratories and covers a range from three to 15 million tests per year. With up to 38 possible combinations, customers can tailor the solution to their specific needs. New design elements such as dynamic sample routing and an upgraded test-tube cassette concept have significantly improved turnaround times and laboratory profitability.

18.11.2009