Roche recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has categorized its Ionify steroid assays for mass spectrometry as “moderate complexity” under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA).
This designation marks an important step toward expanding access to advanced diagnostic testing, which has historically been limited to highly specialized laboratories due to complex workflows and the need for expert operators.
The Ionify steroid assays include Estradiol, DHEA, DHEA-S, Progesterone, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone and Androstenedione, which run on Roche’s cobas i 601 analyzer as part of the cobas Mass Spec solution. By combining the sensitivity and specificity of mass spectrometry with a standardized, easy-to-use workflow, the cobas Mass Spec solution streamlines complex testing and helps reduce variability across laboratories.
The Ionify steroid assays, together with the previously launched Ionify 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D total assay, form the growing U.S. portfolio for the cobas Mass Spec solution with a CLIA "moderate complexity" designation. This classification significantly broadens accessibility, enabling laboratories to routinely offer clinical mass spectrometry assays without the need for specialized operators.
