In a formal symposium presented at the just-completed AABB Annual Meeting, Roche publicly introduced its new cobas 6800/8800 Systems molecular diagnostics program for the first time in the United States. The systems, which will soon be submitted for FDA clearance, were demonstrated in a corporate evening satellite symposium entitled Proactively Reacting to Emerging Pathogens.
According to company spokespersons, “Increasing market pressure and the consolidation of blood screening labs have led to the demand for rapid, higher volume, automated molecular testing systems.” They assert that the cobas 6800 and cobas 8800 Systems provide high throughput and fastest time to results with minimal user interaction.
The systems leverage the cobas omni process, a streamlined sample preparation and PCR profile and reagent setup, to achieve up to 96 results in three hours, with subsequent results coming 90 minutes (cobas 6800 System) or 30 minutes (cobas 8800 System) later. The high level of instrument automation requires minimal hands-on operator time (~ 30 minutes per eight-hour shift) due to the automation of routine user interactions.
The new platforms also introduce fully integrated and automated onboard storage capabilities with full traceability, allowing for flexible testing workflows based on laboratory needs. Roche representatives estimate that the automation and workflow enhancements found on the cobas 6800/8800 Systems can provide up to a 65% reduction in operator time. In a time when blood centers worldwide are concerned about having the ability to run Lab Developed Tests (LDTs) to address emerging pathogens, the systems also offer a Utility Channel that will allow labs to develop their own assays. Read about cobas systems currently available in the United States.
