Roche Diagnostics has introduced the Cobas 8000 in the UK.
The Cobas 8000 fills the gap in the UK for large-scale, high speed in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) testing.
The ability to perform large-scale testing is important if the UK is to realise the model for pathology services focused on service consolidation as set out by Lord Carter in his paper 'The Independent Review of NHS Pathology Services' and also supported by Lord Darzi in his NHS review paper.
The Cobas 8000 modular analyser combines clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing.
It enables high-volume laboratories to deliver reliable results with outstanding workflow and cost efficiency.
Tests run on the new platform provide the physician with important clinical information in a range of medical areas such as infectious and cardiac disease, bone disorders and cancer.
It also includes a range of novel biomarkers for maternal care and rheumatoid arthritis.
The Cobas 8000 integrated analyser allows fast and efficient testing procedures and will significantly reduce sample turn-around.
Ian Parfrement, director of hospital IVD at Roche, said: 'The NHS demands greater flexibility for pathology testing to meet the overall aim of delivering improved patient care while responding to financial pressures.
'With the introduction of the Cobas 8000 as part of the Roche modular-analyser series, healthcare professionals are able to get the same consistent and highly accurate results no matter the testing environment.
'Indeed, we can offer 100 per cent concordance of sample results whether testing is done on one of our smallest standalone instruments on a bench in a GPs' surgery or a high-throughput laboratory.' The first configuration of the Cobas 8000 modular analyser series to be launched is the high-speed clinical chemistry Cobas c 701 module with up to 2000 tests per hour.
In the coming months, additional clinical chemistry and immunoassay modules will be rolled out, resulting in more than 38 scalable solutions that can be tailored to suit laboratories' current and future needs.
The Cobas 8000 modular analyser series has a peak throughput of up to 8,400 tests per hour and a total of 270 reagents.
It merges the latest serum work-area technology with new process innovations.
It incorporates many design elements such as the module sample buffers and independent transport and processing lines for improved sample management.
The convenient clinical-chemistry reagent cassette with ready-to-use reagents provides long onboard stability and varying cassette sizes optimised for workflow and cost management.
The Cobas 8000 modular analyser series includes a package of electronic services and connectivity to all pre-analytical units from Roche, further enhancing automation.
